Dambe fighters wrap their ‘hitting arm’ or ‘spear’ in cloth, bound by tightly knotted cords. In the past, they would sprinkle tiny shards of glass. This practice has been banned. (Ayobami Tzu Macaulay)
Dambe is a centuries old traditional boxing sport believed to belong to the Hausa people and is popular in parts of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad.
Pulse TV has produced a video documentary that explores the sports through the life of a young Dambe fighter.
Contrary to the popular belief that Dambe fighters are usually from the Hausa tribe, Sharrif Gani who is a Dambe fighter from the Yoruba race, shares the story of how he ended up a Dambe fighter, the history of the sport, the rules and mode of fighting, the cultural impact as well as financial gains of engaging in the sport of Dambe.
10-year-old Khloe Thompson provides water & toilet for children in Abidjan Nkwanta in Ghana
Dambe is a gruesome sport that was initially engaged in by individuals of the butcher caste who traveled in groups from community to community, challenging locals in communities they visit. The sport has elements of voodoo as the fighters subscribe to charms to enhance their chances of not being killed or maimed in the course of the fight, as is often the case.
