Unreported World meets the women of Mauritania beating the stigma of divorce and throwing lavish parties to celebrate. Reporter Ayshah Tull finds out if divorce culture and women taking multiple husbands is as empowering as it sounds.
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In Mauritania it’s thought half of all women here get divorced at least once. In this West African country, steeped in Islamic heritage, local tribal traditions have normalised the practice of women ditching their husbands with many remarrying multiple times.
In the historic city of Chinguetti, Tull meets Teslem Milid who at the age of 26-years-old is about to celebrate divorce number four. With music, dancing and social media, Teslem announces to prospective husbands that she’s on the market. Most marriages here are still arranged by the women's parents, but Teslem says she’s determined to find husband number five herself. As the dust settles on the party Tull hears from Teslem’s mother, also divorced, that cutting the knot here still isn't without its risks.
Travelling from the desert to the capital, Nouakchott. Tull discovers the unintended legacy of divorce, including the high levels of divorced mothers struggling to feed their children. But despite the challenges some have found a way to support each other by creating a divorce economy.
Producer/Director: Wil Davies
Series Producer: Andy Lee
Executive Producer: Ed Fraser
Production Company: Channel 4 News