Anthropologist Highlights Gender Inequality in Hadandawa Wedding Practices

In her recent study, anthropologist Amal Hasaan Fadalla sheds light on the Hadandawa tribe’s wedding customs, revealing how issues of honor, fertility, and reproduction continue to shape women’s lives in Eastern Sudan. She argues that the Hadandawa strongly resist intermarriage with outsiders, insisting on maintaining ethnic purity and tribal legacy through strict marriage rules.

At the heart of their wedding ceremonies is Al-Sinkab, a symbolic ritual led by elder women from the groom’s family who prepare decorated palm leaf packages. These are carried in a festive procession to the bride’s tent, marking the union with songs, blessings, and traditional foods.

Yet, Amal stresses that beneath the celebration lies a pattern of gender-based discrimination. A bride’s role is primarily defined by her ability to bear children, particularly male heirs. While the birth of a boy brings honor and security, infertility or repeated births of girls can lead to divorce or polygamy, leaving women vulnerable.

The anthropologist further highlights cultural practices that reinforce these views, such as the symbolic honoring of male newborns over females. She concludes that these customs illustrate how social and biological expectations continue to place women at the center of honor and fertility in Hadandawa society.