Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Warriors and Bare Hands Wrestling

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


Warriors and Bare Hands 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 Senegalese Wrestling 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.

Getting to Know more about Africa

African Country Names Your Saying Wrong
What do Waist Beads Symbolize in Africa?
About African Healers and Witchdoctors
Hurricanes are Angry African Ancestors
Highest Temperature and Lowest Temperature in Africa
About African Night Running

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

More Articles to Read from Chic African Culture

Show more

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Ethiopian Castles and Emperors

Image
In the annals of history, King Fasil, or Fasiledes as he is known, decreed Gondar as the enduring capital of Ethiopia in the year 1636. Under the successive reigns of noble monarchs, a remarkable transformation unfolded. What was once a humble encampment evolved into a walled-in fortified compound of great import, christened Fasil Ghebbi. This compound encompassed six grand edifice complexes, nearly twenty regal palaces and esteemed structures, and an impressive tally of some thirty venerable churches. Francesco Bandarin Photo of Castles of Gondor The castles of Gondar, also known as the Gondar Castle Complex or the Royal Enclosure, are a  collection of historical buildings located in Gondar, a city in northern Ethiopia.  The Gondar Castle Complex was the Ethiopian Empire's royal residence and administrative center during the 17th and 18th centuries. The complex consists of several castles, palaces, churches, and other structures, each reflecting different architectural styles. Not
Read the Article

Food, Drink Offerings at Rock-Cut Tombs

Image
Loaves of bread, cakes, wine, water beer,  oils, and perfumes were offerings Ancient Egyptians offered to the deceased at Beni Hasan Rock-Cut Tombs. A rock-cut tomb is a type of burial structure that is created by carving or excavating directly into natural rock formations. Rock-cut tombs are literally carved or excavated out of solid rock. This means that the tomb chambers, corridors, and other features are created by removing the rock material from the surrounding natural formation. Many of these rock-cut tombs feature decorative elements, such as wall paintings, inscriptions, and carvings.  In the Beni Hasan Rock-Cut Tombs, the ancient Egyptians paid homage to their departed by presenting a variety of offerings. These included loaves of bread, cakes, wine, water, beer, oils, and perfumes. These offerings were a heartfelt gesture to honor and ensure the well-being of the deceased in the afterlife, reflecting the profound significance of their beliefs and funerary customs in ancient E
Read the Article

Mesurado Bay Birth of a Liberian Colony

Image
Liberia was designated as a settlement for freed African slaves by the American Colonization Society, primarily due to the strategic importance of Mesurado Bay.  Liberia's history as a settlement for freed African slaves is intricately tied to the American Colonization Society's objectives and the strategic significance of Mesurado Bay. In the early 19th century, the American Colonization Society (ACS) emerged to address the complex issue of slavery in the United States.  The society sought to establish a colony in Africa where freed African Americans could be resettled and provided with opportunities for a better life. Liberia was chosen as the destination for this resettlement effort. One primary reason for selecting Liberia was its strategic location, notably Mesurado Bay. Situated on the West African coast, Mesurado Bay offered several advantages. It provided a suitable harbor for ships, which was vital for trade and transportation. Additionally, the bay's proximity to
Read the Article

Ghana-Togo Border Closing in 1986

Image
Closing the 680-mile-long Ghana-Togo border in September 1986 was initiated by the government of Togo triggered by Ghanaian Armed protesters. In September 1986, a significant and historically notable incident unfolded along the Ghana-Togo border in Lome. Armed protesters crossed this international border to overthrow President Gnassingbé Eyadéma. This incident led to the closure of the border. President Gnassingbé Eyadéma's lengthy tenure in power, which spanned from 1967 until his death in 2005, was marked by many challenges and complexities. One of the primary challenges Eyadéma encountered was the presence of a persistent and often vocal political opposition.  Eyadéma's rule was criticized for alleged human rights abuses, including political repression, censorship of the media, and restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly. Eyadéma survived multiple coup attempts during his time in office.  The Ghana-Togo border is approximately 1,094 kilometers or about 680 miles long.
Read the Article