Wolof TRADITIONAL WRESTLING

The wolof people are a West African tribal nationality that inhabit present-day Senegal and Gambia. In ancient times, the wolof people were known for entertainments, diverse traditional musical instruments, festivities, sea-faring, farming, craft-making, colourful cultural attires and traditional sports. Among these sports was a popular traditional wrestling that remained part of the wolof cultural life to this day.

The “Mbuer”(the wrestlers) fight it out amidst cheers from damsels whom, each, supports a particular wrestler of their choice. The champion was rewarded with gifts and a traditional title.

This West African sport was introduced on slave plantations in the southern parts of America in the 17th century CE, at the peak of the trans-Atlantic slave trade era by Europeans (for gambling and the entertainment of guests) who had enslaved Africans in the Americas. But in this case, the winner became a ‘champion’ by breaking his opponent’s neck. He was then, often rewarded with a soft matress to lay on (for the night), a pint of beer and one of the female slaves for the night.

This act was common on plantations in the southern parts of America. It was done to mostly, re-captured runaway slaves or troublesome ones that the enslavers won’t miss, especially in Louisiana, until the civil war.