An Ariaal youth sports a traditional pre-warrior hairstyle, topped with a red rose during courtship season.Mount Poi, Africa’s largest monolith, is a popular. gathering place for Ariaal courtship in the Ndoto Mountains.At left: Two Ariaal warriors, members of a sub-clan of the Rendille who have intermarried with the Samburu, converse in the valley of Mount Poi. At right: A warrior and his girlfriend play flirtatiously at the foot of the mountain.The goal of a young suitor is to give the girl a coil of colorful beads to wear on top of her collection of red bead necklaces. If she accepts this gift it indicates that the couple are formally “going steady”.A warrior adjusts his hair in a small mirror. He will give beaded necklaces to the girl who takes his fancy, signaling that they are officially lovers, or Nekarai. The warriors are free to meet and flirt with their young girlfriends until the girls enter into marriage. At that point they must part ways forever.A young pre warrior, wearing his hair in a cap like style, tresses the longer hair of a senior warrior by weaving in strands of ochered sisal.A group of warriors court their young girlfriends. These men are not allowed to marry during their fourteen-year period of warriorhood but are not expected to remain celibate. Pregnancy out of wedlock is frowned upon.Ariaal men spend hours beautifying themselves to attract girlfriends. With a flair for style, they incorporate into their hair-dos eagle feathers, pompoms, plastic and silk flowers and all manner of small trinkets and toys found in local markets.Alluring adornment and seductive beauty mark Ariaal men and women during courtship season.A young girl’s beautiful adornment and flirtatious glance draws the attention of suitors.
