Chic African Culture

Senegalese Traditional Wrestling in Africa

-
Senegalese Traditional Wrestling in Africa

Mbeurkatt is the Wolof word for a wrestler, wrestling is a very popular national sport in Senegal.



The traditional sport of Senegalese wrestling is a grassroots that started from the villages versus global, football handed down from the colonial authorities. The mighty Senegalese wrestler Tyson Tyson was the innovator of Senegalese bling rockstar wrestling from 1995 to 2002.



 Senegalese wrestlers fight with bare hands and without any protection however in traditional wrestling there is no punching, kicking or striking. Senegalese wrestling does not traditionally allow striking blows with the hands but since the 1990’s it is standardized with the Lutte Traditionnelle Sans Frappe and Lutte Traditionnelle Avec Frappe for the striking version. Traditional Senegalese wrestling was designed to measure the strength of men and designate the champion of the village. 

Mbeurkatt is the Wolof word for wrestlers
Mbeurkatt is the Wolof
word for wrestler


Traditional Wrestling in Africa


Senegalese wrestling purists have issues with the Lutte Traditionnelle Avec Frappe striking version and advocate for Senegalese wrestling to return to the more conventional Greco-Roman style wrestling. Today Senegalese wrestling resembles the WWE and MMA rolled into one sport more popular than soccer in Senegal. 

However, Senegalese wrestling has evolved into a widely televised, money-making event and its champions have rock star status. Becoming a popular wrestler, king of the arena and making money is why so many young men enter the sport wrestling for hours a day. Sponsors and developers are willing to pay big money to athletes. 

 Mouhamed Ndao alias Tyson Tyson was the star par excellence of Senegalese wrestling from 1995 to 2002. By itself, Tyson Tyson phenomenon is just like Hulk Hogan of the former WWE, he was the most popular fighter in the history of the sport. 

 Early WWE superstar Kamala “The Ugandan Giant” was born and raised in the US State of Mississippi, not in Uganda Africa. Promoted as a cannibalistic headhunter from the African jungles, Kamala was one of the most terrifying villains of the WWE during the '80s and '90s, today Kamala who real name is James Harris is living life as a double amputee. 

Senegalese wrestling looks like a simple contest between two big strong men fighting in the sand dressed in loincloths but no wrestler regardless of his strength or technical abilities will enter the ring without his marabout. The marabout in Muslim Africa is believed to have supernatural power. The wrestling competition has many mystical rituals, which are supposed to instill bravery into the wrestler and fear into his opponent.


Mouhamed Ndao alias Tyson Tyson was the star par excellence of Senegalese wrestling
Mouhamed Ndao alias Tyson Tyson of  Senegalese wrestling
The mystical ritual ceremonies are to ward off bad luck before each fight. Before each confrontation, the mbeurkatt engages in "Baccou" of singing prowess to intimidate the opponent and seduce the audience dancing to the rhythm of drums. 

 Songs, also sung by griots and the appointed cherries, was then called "Ndawrabine". Under the watchful eye of three referees, a fight lasts a few minutes up to 45 minutes and can include a few 5-minute breaks. 

 The wrestlers fight with bare hands and without any protection however in traditional lamb there is no striking. The winner is whoever puts his opponent on the ground, whether on his back, butt, stomach, or a combination of hands and knees.  

King of the Arena


Tyson is the arena name of Mouhamed Ndao, a superstar Senegalese wrestling athlete. Born in the Kaolack region of west-central Senegal, he spent his childhood in Pikine, in the suburbs of Dakar. Tysons first major victory on July 4, 1999, came against Manga II, indisputably the greatest Senegalese wrestler of all times.

On December 25, 2002, Tyson finally loses his title to Bombardier arena name of Serigne Ousmane Dia also known as B52by. Tyson defended his title twice being king of the arena for two and a half years however, he forever changed the sport of wrestling into a profitable money-making business. 

The traditional sport of Senegalese wrestling is a grassroots that started from the villages versus global, football handed down from the colonial authorities. Traditional Senegalese wrestling was designed to measure the strength of men and designate the champion of the village. 


Senegal wrestling athletes belong to stables, the same as football and baseball players belong to teams. There are well over 80 stables as Senegalese wrestling is a cultural and commercial phenomenon event selling out huge arenas. 

Wrestlers are bigger stars than their footballing equivalents, and thousands of young boys dream of a lucrative career in the ring. Indeed, it is often said that wrestling has overtaken football in popularity and status
Did you know
WWE is very popular throughout the world. The WWE Network will be available in the Middle East and North Africa; there is a loyal following in South Africa. 


Popular posts from this blog

Nature Holds Many Secrets | Hurricanes, Angry African Ancestors

-
Image
Eastern coasts of Caribbean, United States, and South America, are in danger of being blasted by hurricanes wind and rain during hurricane season from June through November. But, why?  

The scientific reason why is because of Africa’s Sahara desert dust storms and the transition of thunderstorms off the west coast of Africa. The waters in the North Atlantic Ocean are typically at their warmest while the Sahara is at its hottest from July through October, so the chances of a hurricane are highest during these months.
Hurricanes are gigantic weather systems using convection, the movement of hot and cold air, to create dangerous storms. They are rotating heat engines powered by the warmth of tropical waters having three main parts, the eye, the eyewall, and rainbands. 

Hurricanes cannot form just anywhere in the world due to the need for hot and humid air. They normally form close to the equator and move west or northwest. Hurricane Alley is a stretch of warm water through the Atlantic Ocea…
Discover more

Survival of the Fattest, obese Europeans starving Africa

-
Image
Survival of the Fattest

Rich get richer Survival of the Fattest, obese Europeans starving Africa
Survival of the Fattest is a sculpture of a small starving African man, carrying Lady Justice, a huge obese European woman who is a symbol of the rich world. Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture
5-12-2016

Survival of the Fattest Meaning
The copper statue Survival of the Fattest by Jens Galschiøt and Lars Calmar was created in 2002. The fat woman is holding a pair of scales as a symbol of justice however; she is closing her eyes so the justice. Galschiot symbolized the woman as being blind, refusing to see the obvious injustice.
For the rich people of the world the main issue in life is that of overeating while people in the third world are dying every day from hunger. 
The misery of imbalanced wealth distribution is creating floods of refugees. However the rich only want to preserve their privileges and take measures so harsh against the poor, they betray their morals …
Discover more

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

-
Image
Charging Cell Phones Rural Africa

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

The simple task of charging a cell phone is no simple matter in rural African villages far from an electric grid.
With the advent of tiny rooftop solar panels electricity could be accessible to millions.
African governments are struggling to meet to electric needs of the poorest of the poor living in rural areas. 

Living off-grid may be a lifestyle choice to some and a fact of everyday living to the poorest of the poor. However, tiny rooftop solar panels and high-efficiency LED lights across the African continent could provide enough electricity to charge cell phones. 

Cell phones are vital for people in rural areas with no access to banks in order to send and receive money, access medical care and stay in contact with family and friends.
What does Off-Grid Mean? Off the grid (off-grid) means creating your own self-sufficient environment and being able to operate completely independently of all trad…
Discover more