Traditional Senegalese Wrestling

Senegalese wrestling (“Laamb en Wolof”) is a popular, traditional sport from Senegal. This sport to determine the strongman of the village. The men were fighting to see who were the great champion. The Senegalese wrestling was practiced at the end of the harvest. True cultural folklore, this struggle made it possible to determine the champion, the hero, the fighter of a whole village. Senegalese wrestling (“Laamb en Wolof”) is followed by mystical ceremonies, rituals to ward off bad spells before each game. This sport is supported by the bravery of wrestlers. This is to stimulate, galvanize the wrestlers. A procession of marabouts accompanied the combatants. The protégés each have gray-gray to protect them from bad fate and regularly make ritual baths. Before the fight begins, the wrestler surrenders to the “Baccou”. The aim of baccou is to intimidate his opponent by singing his prowess and seducing the public. All this is accompanied by tam-tam songs, songs of the wrestlers, public acclamations.