Mauritania, where big is beautiful

Historians say the practice of leblouh dates back to pre-colonial times when all Mauritania's white Moor Arabs were nomads.

The richer the man, the less his wife would do - the preference being for her to sit l all day in her tent while her black slaves saw to household chores.

Ancient Berber quatrains laud tebtath (stretchmarks) as jewels. Even today lekhwassar (fat around the waist) is given lyrical pride of place and girls sent for fattening gain the stature of mbelha. They are taught to sit in the lotus position, speak softly, use utensils and to emulate the exemplary lives of the Prophet Muhammad's wives.

Fattening of girls is practised beyond Mauritania, in northern Mali and rural Niger, and in parts of Nigeria and Cameroon.

- AGENCIES