This is most definitely the best most recent thread thus far.

Dambe (Haussa Trad. boxing) :

Dambe, also known as Kokawa is a form of boxing associated with the Hausa people of West Africa. Historically, Dambe included a wrestling component, known as Kokawa, but today it is essentially a striking art. The tradition is dominated by Hausa butcher caste groups, and over the last century evolved from clans of butchers traveling to farm villages at harvest time, integrating a fighting challenge by the outsiders into local harvest festival entertainment. It was also traditionally practised as a way for men to get ready for war, and many of the techniques and terminology allude to warfare. Today, companies of boxers travel, performing outdoor matches accompanied by ceremony and drumming, throughout the traditional Hausa homelands of northern Nigeria, southern Niger and southwestern Chad. The name "Dambe" derives from the Hausa word for "boxing", and appears in languages like Bole as Dembe. Boxers are called by the Hausa word "daæmaænga"


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, or 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. The lead hand, called the shield, is held with the open palm facing toward the opponent. The lead 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. However, because wrestling used to be allowed, and the goal of the game is to cause the opponent to fall down, kicks are more common than they used to be.

Tournaments

Traditionally, contests took place between men of butchers’ guilds 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 cofraternity 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.

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 meatpacking plants as members of traditional butcher castes still predominate. In these urban matches, participants wear shorts rather than loincloths. Sand filled West African Lutte Traditionnelle 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, amulets are often used as forms of supernatural protection. Amulets are seen in modern urban bouts, too, but officials generally discourage the use of magical protection on the grounds of fairness. It is still common that amulets are placed in the feather filled pillows which fighters place in their wrapped fists, and fighters often scar their striking arm, rubbing salves and resins into the healing wounds which are meant to provide strength or defence. Some modern traveling boxing companies engage in ritual smoking of Hemp or Marijuana before bouts.

This is a very interesting thread. I've always seen photos of men with wild animals but never knew what they were.

odumchi: This is a very interesting thread. I've always seen photos of men with wild animals but never knew what they were.

Thank You Odumchi for unblocking my last post!

PAGAN 9JA:


Thank You Odumchi for unblocking my last post!

No prob.

Hausa woman weaving traditional cloths for the Boori Ceremony.

Interesting! Great to see Nigerians talking about Dambe

TerraCotta: Interesting! Great to see Nigerians talking about Dambe

our future Olympics Boxing Team!

[size=32pt]Argungu Fishing Festival[/size]:

The Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual four day festival in north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi. The 2008 Argungu Fishing Festival was planned for March 12-15.

The festival usually took place in Argungu, the capital city of the Hausa Argungu Emirate Council. The geo-physical nature and characteristics of the festival site in Argungu are river areas (matanfada, mala, gamji), irrigation, and ocherds (lambu in hausa). the majority of fishermen are Predominant farmers. Kanta mesium is the main historical centre in Argungu for visitors across the globe. People from different destination troupe to Argungu just to witness the occasion.

The festival began in the year 1934, as a mark of the end of the centuries old hostility between the Fulani Sokoto Caliphate and the Hausa Kebbi Kingdom.

In 2005, the winning fish weighed 75 kg, and needed four men to hoist it onto the scales. In 2006 the festival banned fishing due to safety concerns relating to the low water levels. The importance of the festival to the economy has led the government to conserve fish stock by prohibiting use of gill nets and cast nets.

In 2008, At the end of the three days' event, a 37 year old man, Mallam Bello ya'u Argungu came first in this year's fishing festival with his biggest catch weighing 65.95 kilograms.

One of the sponsors of the fishing festival, Maltina, gave him a new Honda car, the State Government rewarded him with fishing equipment, MTN gave him a coloured television set while Virgin Air promised to take care of his medical expenses for one year. His fish was also auctioned by the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sahad Abubakar for N1 million.

On the final day of the festival, a competition is held in which thousands of men and women line up along the river and at the sound of a gunshot, all of them jump into the river and have an hour to catch the largest fish. The winner can take home as much as 7,500 US dollars. Competitors are only allowed to use traditional fishing tools and many prefer to catch fish entirely by hand, to demonstrate their prowess.

Other attractions include dance and music, sporting competitions and exhibits of arts and crafts.

The Zauro polder project, an irrigation scheme in the Rima River floodplain to the south of Argungu, has been criticized because the reservoir threatens to flood the traditional site of the festival.

The Pagan Saarkin Ruwa boarded a boat, beating his drum and add to the festival atmosphere. A scene from the 2009 Argungu Fishing Festival.

more pictures from the annual Argungu Fishing Festival:

Argungu Fishing Festival:

Argungu Fishing Festival - Weighing & Estimating the Catch :

Argungu Fishing Festival - Nets :

Argungu Fihing Festival : onlookers, dignitaries, singers, musicians. :

Argungu Festival Haussa sub-tribe Dancers:

Entrance to Argungu-Kebbi Emir's Palace:

2 Hausa men in Argungu.

Argungu Fishing Festival Art :

Hausa Girl.

Hausa Weaver of mats & baskets.

Hausa man in Ceremonial Attire.

These are really some heroic pictures, please continue this thread, and keep them coming.

ARGUNGU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PAGAN 9JA:


No.



superior cavalry. also we were not well-prepared because we didnt see much war for ages. another possibility is inside betrayel by some muslim fundamentalist Hausas. but i cant be sure on that point.
however we didnt lose all battles as was evident from my previous posts. but it is true we lost most battles.



i tink you are referring to the Kano Chronicles from around the 10th-11th Centuries. it documents detailed Hausa history,etc, from the pan-Pagan days.

also many other chronicles were written. for that one must go throught the archives.



physically or what?

Yes, Mali and Hausa States were for some time part of the Songhai in the 15th an 16th Century.

jantavanta:

Yes, Mali and Hausa States were for some time part of the Songhai in the 15th an 16th Century.

Mali was, but not the Hausa States.

PAGAN 9JA:


Mali was, but not the Hausa States.

Correction accepted. It is interesting to know that.

Mali, Songhai and the Hausa States were Great before Islamic Invasion. I believe that Bayajidda was authentically from Daura
and not from Persia. The Persian origin of Bayajidda and the Arabian origin ascribed to Oduduwa are colonialism trying to
enforce the Indo-European origin myth of the human race.

Islam was accepted, at first nominally by the Rulers to get through the blockade around the seas of Africa
that the White Arabs had created, which was stifling international commerce for the Mali, Songhai and Hausa States.

The Bori Spirit possession is similar to Vodou (pejoratively changed by Hollywood to Voodoo). These are core elements
of the African Mystery System that have gone out Africa, repackaged and come back as "holy spirit possession".

jantavanta:

Correction accepted. It is interesting to know that.

Mali, Songhai and the Hausa States were Great before Islamic Invasion. I believe that Bayajidda was authentically from Daura
and not from Persia. The Persian origin of Bayajidda and the Arabian origin ascribed to Oduduwa are colonialism trying to
enforce the Indo-European origin myth of the human race.

Islam was accepted, at first nominally by the Rulers to get through the blockade around the seas of Africa
that the White Arabs had created, which was stifling international commerce for the Mali, Songhai and Hausa States.

The Bori Spirit possession is similar to Vodou (pejoratively changed by Hollywood to Voodoo). These are core elements
of the African Mystery System that have gone out Africa, repackaged and come back as "holy spirit possession".

Thank You Jantavanta. Well said!

jantavanta:

Correction accepted. It is interesting to know that.

Mali, Songhai and the Hausa States were Great before Islamic Invasion. I believe that Bayajidda was authentically from Daura
and not from Persia. The Persian origin of Bayajidda and the Arabian origin ascribed to Oduduwa are colonialism trying to
enforce the Indo-European origin myth of the human race.

Islam was accepted, at first nominally by the Rulers to get through the blockade around the seas of Africa
that the White Arabs had created, which was stifling international commerce for the Mali, Songhai and Hausa States.

The Bori Spirit possession is similar to Vodou (pejoratively changed by Hollywood to Voodoo). These are core elements
of the African Mystery System that have gone out Africa, repackaged and come back as "holy spirit possession".

100% agree

In Fulfulde Mali (Maasinkoore), they call Voodoo "Ghimbala"

Fulaman198: In Fulfulde Mali (Maasinkoore), they call Voodoo "Ghimbala"

oh really is that the Fulani version i know there are some Fulani religion still practiced. ill get the info later.

jantavanta:

Correction accepted. It is interesting to know that.

Mali, Songhai and the Hausa States were Great before Islamic Invasion. I believe that Bayajidda was authentically from Daura
and not from Persia. The Persian origin of Bayajidda and the Arabian origin ascribed to Oduduwa are colonialism trying to
enforce the Indo-European origin myth of the human race.

Islam was accepted, at first nominally by the Rulers to get through the blockade around the seas of Africa
that the White Arabs had created, which was stifling international commerce for the Mali, Songhai and Hausa States.

The Bori Spirit possession is similar to Vodou (pejoratively changed by Hollywood to Voodoo). These are core elements
of the African Mystery System that have gone out Africa, repackaged and come back as "holy spirit possession".

Agreed. The word "bori" has some superficial similiarities with "ori" and "orisha" in Yoruba language. I'm not aware of any links between the practices, but it would be worthwhile for someone to try and study both. Hopefully, the armchair scholars at Nairaland won't come in to derail your thread. There's an interesting comparison between Bori, a Yoruba religious tradition from Kabba called "Aruta", Haitian Vodun and other world religions in this paper:
http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~eniugh/congress2011/fileadmin/eniugh2011/dokumente/Cultural_Reconnection_in_Africa_and_Pacific_Asia.pdf