Dambe

Dambe

Focus	Striking
Country of origin	Nigeria
Olympic sport	No
Martial art	Yes

Dambe is a martial art of the Hausa people from Nigeria.^[1] Competitors in a typical match aim to subdue each other into total submission mostly within three rounds. It often results in serious bodily injury. Boxers are called by the Hausa word "daæmaænga".^[2]

The tradition is dominated by Hausa fisherman and butcher caste groups,

.

The sport has received mainstream attention from Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as its minister, Sunday Dare pledged in December 2019 to create a national league plus cooperating with the Dambe Sport Association to form a federation for organizing competitions and tournaments across and outside Nigeria,[4] plans were already underway before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country early 2020.^[3]

Techniques

Although there are no formal weight classes, usually competitors in Dambe matches are fairly matched in size.

Matches last three rounds. There is no time limit to these rounds. Instead, they end when:

1. There is no activity
2. One of the participants or an official calls a halt
3. A participant's hand, knee, or body touches the ground. Knocking the opponent down is called "killing" the opponent.

The primary weapon is the strong-side fist. The strong-side fist, known as the "spear", is wrapped in a piece of cloth covered by tightly knotted cord.^[5][6] Some boxers would dip their spear in sticky resin mixed with bits of broken glass;^[7] this, however, became an illegal practice. The other defensive hand, called the "shield",^[5] is held with the open palm facing toward the opponent, said hand can be used to grab or hold as required.

The lead leg is often wrapped in a chain, and the chain-wrapped leg is then used for both offense and defense. The unwrapped back leg can also be used to kick. Because wrestling used to be allowed, and the goal of the game is to cause the opponent to fall down which is referred to as killed and the winner is the person that knocks down the opponent, kicks are more common than they used to be.

Tournaments

Traditionally, contests took place between men of butchers’

who would also challenge men from their village audiences. Drawn from a specific lower caste of Hausa society who were the only ones who could ritually slaughter animals and handle meat, traveling butchers formed boxing teams from their ranks called "armies". Their bouts took place at festivals marking the end of the harvest season, as clans of butchers would travel to slaughter animals for farm communities. Harvest also marked a time when rural communities were flush with money, so gambling on feats of strength became closely associated with these celebrations.

Today, participants are as often urban youths who train in gyms or backyards, competing year-round. While no longer the preserve of the Hausa butcher caste, the fraternity aspect remains, as youths who join the professional ranks join a professional community which travels to perform bouts in carnival like appearances, complete with amplified sound systems and elaborate pre-match ritual. Side betting for spectators and prize purses for competitors remain an important part of the event.^[8][9]

During village bouts, contests take place in a cleared area called the battlefield, with spectators forming the boundaries of the ring. In modern urban bouts, local competitions take place in temporary rings, often setup outside

arenas, common in large towns, are used for larger bouts, and are often combined with traditional wrestling championships.

Whether traditional or modern, percussive music and chants precede the bouts. The music and chants are associated with both groups and individuals, and serve to call boxers to the ring, taunt opponents, and encourage audience participation.

In traditional bouts,

Etymology

The name "Dambe" derives from the Hausa word for "boxer" and appears in languages like Bole as Dembe.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Lutte Traditionnelle: a form of traditional pan-West African wrestling, often performed in conjunction with Dambe.
• Abir-qesheth(ancient Hebrew fighting art)

References

Further reading

• "African Martial Arts." (2006) [1]
• Green, Thomas A. (2003). "Africa and African America." In Thomas A. Green, ed. Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia, pp. 1-12. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
• Nakasissa, Michael. (February 14, 2006). "Traditional African Sports and Games: Dambe (Boxing)." [2]
• "Traditional Butchers' Boxing Is Reborn." (April 25, 2002) Pakistani Daily Times [3]

External links

• Inside the Brutal World of Nigerian Boxing, report by VICE News