Introduction

Marriage is a must for anyone who aspires to a certain social respectability. In Africa, and particularly in Senegal, it is not just a union between two people, but between entire families. Marriage is not just a religious act, it is also a deeply rooted cultural and traditional practice.

One of these practices in particular, the Laabane, is very present and very feared, because it deals with a sensitive issue, that of virginity, and puts at stake the honour of an entire family or even an entire community. 

What is Laabane? 

The Laabane is a traditional ceremony during which the new bride is taken to her new husband so that they can consummate their union. It often takes place in the evening after the religious wedding. Its main purpose is to check that the new bride is indeed a virgin and that she has reserved herself exclusively for her husband. 

How does the ceremony take place? 

On the day of the Laabane, the new bride has an intimate meeting with her Badiène (aunt), who gives her advice on how she should behave with her husband and reminds her of the expectations placed on her. She then makes her sit on a Geunne (pestle) and gives her a ritual bath before making her wear special clothes to make her feel sensual and desirable. 

Once everything has been done, a new white sheet is placed on the marriage bed to collect the blood resulting from the breaking of the hymen. The bride is then left with her husband overnight. 

At dawn, the Geweul (griot) comes into the courtyard of the house with a musical instrument, the Tama, and plays a specific tune that says: was the girl a virgin or not? 

The Badiène, who has stayed outside the marriage chamber all night, then returns to retrieve the sheet and display it in front of the griot. If there is blood, the griot plays a second tune to inform everyone that the bride has honoured her husband, her family, and her entire community. This is followed by a joyous celebration where everyone comes to offer the bride gifts to celebrate the fact that she has preserved her dignity as a woman. 

What is its social impact? 

In a very conservative society, a woman who loses her virginity before marriage is often considered a wanton, a disgrace to her family, and especially to her mother, who is held responsible for her child’s poor upbringing. At the same time, a woman who preserves her virginity is considered a source of pride, because she has succeeded in resisting the temptations of life and has offered her most sacred possession, her virginity, to her husband. 

Conclusion 

The Laabane is one of the most beautiful aspects of Senegalese culture, as it brings out the very valiant nature of our society, where virginity plays a very important role. However, its social weight is very heavy. 

Even if it is still practiced, it is increasingly neglected by the new generation, as it is seen as an attack on the sacred intimacy of the couple.