The Grand Mariage — known as the anda in Comorian — is the most important social institution on Ngazidja. To complete one, a man must hold a wedding feast of extraordinary scale: gold jewellery, embroidered robes, feasting, music, and dancing that can continue for two weeks. A man who has not completed his anda is excluded from village councils and significant community decision-making, regardless of his age or wealth. Families save for decades to fund the ceremony.
The anda determines social hierarchy in a way that has no precise equivalent elsewhere. Witnessing a Grand Mariage ceremony is one of the most remarkable cultural experiences available in the Indian Ocean region, but it requires an introduction through local contacts — these are private family celebrations, not tourist events. If you are staying in Moroni for more than a few days, ask at your guesthouse; events occur regularly throughout the year. The music and dancing — particularly the tari dance performed by the bride's female companions — are extraordinary.