# data[].attributes.body
El Hajj consults a marabout (an expert on animism, practiced in Senegal along with Islam and Christianity. https://www.bouelmogdad.com/ethnic-groups-and-religions/?lang=en

# data[].attributes.body
I think that its crazy that he asked someone to make him a man again.  I think its crazy because if he already had the sexual experience wouldn't it automatically make him a man forever according to the African masculinity?

# data[].attributes.body
At a time, we can see El Hajj ask to the president to make leave beggars that are present in the street. It shows that there is a lot of poor people in Senegal, and they are not very well seen, like beggars for example. I think it is like this in a lot of country, poor people gives a bad image of the country.

# data[].attributes.body
In the film they really glossed over the political corruption in the country. At the start of the film, everyone was so happy to gain their "freedom", but they do not question the French adviser always with the president. Also the briefcases full of money super shady. I thought it was wild they kicked El out for being corrupt, but ignored their own corruption.

# data[].attributes.body
After the marriage of El Hajj to his third wife, there was a religious ceremony of such performed prior to performing intercourse. The bride's mother got her daughter ready and then came into the room afterwards with a chicken to make sure that the process happened since her daughter was a virgin. You also see their culture being played out prior to the wedding where the mother-in-law asked El Hajj to sit naked on the pedestal prior to his wedding.

# data[].attributes.body
At the beginning of the movie when El Hadji at his first wife's house, he slapped his daughter and told her that he is the master of this family. Then at the day of his wedding, he said during the gathering with the president and other men that his first wife was a virgin, his second wife was a virgin, and his third wife of course is a virgin as well. This shows that men consider having a virgin wife as something to show their masculinity.

# data[].attributes.body
I think that even though its a comedy, it shows great importance of politics and economics. The majority of Senegal people live in horrible poverty, while there are corrupt politicians who do not care about them running everything. There are many places where this happens in the real world today.

# data[].attributes.body
To add to what Vern said: I think it was odd he asked someone else to make him a man again. We have been learning about how guys become "men" by things they do, not by what others do for them. In Africa, we've read that it's the older generation that is to teach and mold young boys into knowing what a man is, and then they go through various phases to become a man. Hadji in the movie has already had two wives. I would agree that everything he has gone through has already made him a man; I think what he really should of been asking for was how to make him a better man than he has been being.

# data[].attributes.body
In the film is starts off with the french colonials supposedly leaving to make way for their African replacements. It is ironic that they are supposed to be leaving when we all know that the really aren't leaving, and that they are really staying in Senegal, to control the new ruling class through their finances. (using their money to pay off)

# data[].attributes.body
Viewed throughout the film, you often hear El Hajj and another men brag and showboat their sexual lives, and anything to establish dominance. An example of this is El Hajj for one, having multiple wives, and for two, bragging about them all being virgins. The main men in this film all appear to be trying to be accepted, and overall prove that they are the main man. They are the most desired, powerful, and wealthy and often make mistakes in order to prove their masculinity.

# data[].attributes.body
In the film I saw the idea of economics and works toward the beginning. When they arrive at the wedding of the third wife, coins were tossed in the street to beggars. The began grabbing them which showed how poor the place is. In that same scene a policeman steps on one of the coins preventing a child from taking it then he put it in his own pocket. This shows a few things. The first is that even those with jobs might need more money and second that people with jobs, especially authoritative ones could abuse their power.

# data[].attributes.body
I thought that the movie Xala reinforced many of the masculinity traits discussed in class that relate to western and Palestinian/ Israeli culture. The concept of the man being independent, yet dependable, and the aquisition for multiple sexual partners holds true throughout the film, but what shocked me is the fact that they view Erectile dysfunction as a curse. I thought that this was quite interesting. Another interesting thing i would like to note is the chicken placed on the bed before El Haj and his 3rd wife had sex....what was that all about?

# data[].attributes.body
In the film El Hajj practices polygamy which is very common in Senegal culture up to this day. I like how the movie attacks and gives us a further look into Awa, his first wife, and her struggle to follow tradition. Awa is dependent on El Hajj due to his power and role, so this creates conflict between Awa and her values of tradition.

# data[].attributes.body
Throughout the film, Sembene, creates this "masculine" look on women and sort of a "feminine" look on men. It's like he is trying to reimage gender and the gender roles in the contemporary part of Africa.