Yemeni Wedding (by Tyler)

One of the first weeks in Sana'a, Professor Lo, Andrew, and I came across a traditional Yemeni wedding ceremony while walking through the old city. In Yemen, weddings are divided into men's parties and women's parties. The men's parties are held in the streets and involve singing, dancing, and chewing gat. The celebration is open to all men and western guests are readily welcomed. The groom sits in a throne-esque chair while wedding guests alternate being photographed with the groom while sitting in adjacent chairs. The groom is dressed in his finest clothing, often wearing make-up and carrying a golden sword. The streets are illuminated with strands of light, while loudspeakers blast traditional Yemeni music (in addition to the occasional western song). Dancing starts early in the evening and often lasts until early the next morning.

In contrast, the women's party is a very private event, but much more extravagant. The women all meet in a home or wedding hall for an evening of dance and socializing. They wear extremely flashy clothing, often more lavish than what is seen in the west. Hopefully Isabelle or Ella can follow up with a first hand account of one of these parties.




This photograph shows Professor Lo participating in a traditional Yemeni wedding dance. Andrew and I made a deal with Professor Lo that if he participated in the group dance, we would owe him a similar participation at another Yemeni wedding. Professor Lo argued that Duke students should strive to become Arabists instead of Orientalists. The latter looks into Arab and Muslim cultures from the perspective of the "others", while the former develops an inward approach of the culture. They strive to become a part of the culture, understanding why and how world views are socially and historically constructed. In brief, he argues, "being able to dance with and immerse yourself into a cultural group tells a lot about your psychological readiness to observe continuity and changes within that culture." Hopefully Andrew and I will have a chance to uphold our end of the deal before leaving Yemen.