Kerbaj (expressive – iStock)
It was as if he had been possessed by madness, so Muhammad did not feel himself, except for jumping, to stand like a mountain, and to receive the blazing blows of the whip falling successively on his bare back.
And it was only a moment until drops of blood fell successively over his white loincloth, which was tightened in the middle in a bright red color, amid the loud rhythms of popular drums, and the ululation of women that ignited the enthusiasm and ecstasy of those present on the happy occasion.
With these words, Muhammad Ismail described to Al-Arabiya.net the moments he lived in at a wedding that were not erased from his memory, despite the fact that he is now seventy-five years old.
Rather, he revealed that standing up to the blows of the whips still fascinates him, and he said: “When I see the whips dancing in front of me on a dance floor, I turn to another person, and I do not calm down until after the blows of the whip fall on my back. I do not care much about what happens after that, even if I die!”
wedding houses
It is noteworthy that flogging in wedding houses, popularly known as (al-Battan) – by including the Ba’ and opening the Ta’ – is famous for the Sudanese tribes and population groups, residing in the Nile River state in the north of the country, especially the Ja’ali tribe.
Al-Battan is a Sudanese habit deep in the past, which resisted extinction or regression, and to this day the sight of whips igniting naked backs is still a tempting matter that deserves sacrifice.
Its practice does not stop at remote areas, but has even expanded to some graduation ceremonies in Sudanese universities.
From a wedding in Sudan (AFP)
Chivalry and courage?
And the transformation of leather or lining into a folklore associated with chivalry, courage and manhood. This habit also symbolizes patience, steadfastness, and endurance, as a person stands like a rock without moving, because any movement during severe flogging is deducted from his balance!
Whenever he was fixed under the blows of the whips, the admiration of those present and the women’s ululation were extracted.
drenched in tar
In addition, there are conditions that must be met to start the blanket, the first of which is the provision of a whip (Kirbaj), which is made of leather soaked with tar to gain flexibility and rhythm of pain, and (Dalukah), which is a hollow drum made of pottery and leather and emits enthusiastic rhythms through the palms of women, striking the rhythm, It is famous in the central and northern regions of Sudan and is used in happy occasions such as marriage.
psychological factors
But this habit also has psychological factors, including the man’s desire to draw attention to his ability to endure terrible pain, as explained by the psychologist at the Ahfad University for Girls, Noun Sharafi, to Al Arabiya.net.
It also considered that some people fear breaking the prevailing customs and traditions, which makes this phenomenon prevail, expand, and resist extinction.
From Sudan (Reuters)
For her part, sociologist Dr. Asmaa Jumaa told Al-Arabiya.net, “Social traditions die and live, change and are replaced by new habits with the passage of time and according to the conditions that society is going through. If the conditions that society is going through are strong, then the impact is strong. Modernity, civilization, science, awareness, and good economic conditions all have a hand in changing habits
She also added, “If society is not affected by modernity, it will maintain the same traditions for a long time,” considering that many Sudanese traditions have not changed or reappeared due to the political and economic conditions and the state of instability that made society return to traditional social blocs such as the tribe.
