Traditional wrestling festival for the Kabye people in Togo
The wrestling festival is a traditional festival of the Kabye people in Togo, which was interrupted during the colonial period. Togo became independent in 1960, and the government restored this traditional festival in 1972. In recent years, it has developed into a national festival, and wrestling has become a national skill in Togo.
The Kabye people are the second fire tribe in Togo and live in the hilly areas of northern Togo. The soil is barren, the dry season lasts for six months, and the temperature reaches 45°C under toxic sun irradiation, making the living conditions of the people difficult. In order to fight against the harsh natural environment and defend against bullying by foreigners, the Kabiya people need strong and brave men; in order to ensure that the tribe can maintain long-term stability and inherit from generation to generation, the Kabiya people also need to cultivate tough and solid young people. Therefore, wrestling, which competes in physical strength and resilience, has become a sport they love. This kind of sports to temper the will and exercise the body comes from an ancient legend.
According to legend, the location of the
, Kabiye, who has lived in the mountains and forests for generations, has a timid nature. They are kind and kind. In a difficult living environment, they endure humiliation and endure heavy burdens. The mountains and forests give them rich wild plants, and the streams give them pure hearts. They live contentedly in this closed world. The whole tribe loves each other, respects the elderly, loves the young, and lives in harmony.
However, one year, a powerful tribe broke into the peaceful mountains and forests. They wantonly insulted the Kabiya people, robbed the fruits of their labor, and bullied young and beautiful girls. The honest Kabiya people complained and cried. During this time of suffering, a strong young man stepped forward and said to the sighing villagers: "We cannot be slaughtered by others. No matter how tame the wildebeest, we will resist with our hooves when we are chased by lions. No matter how generous we are, we Kabiye people are, we also have the dignity of the tribe. I will use my physical strength and skills to fight against the barbaric intruders to boost our fighting spirit." His words were approved by people.
The next day, the morning fog cleared, white clouds floated in the sky, and the sun shot out a soft light. A mountain village venue in Kabiya was crowded with people. People watched the wrestling match between the Kabiye boy and the intruder with mixed emotions. After some intense fighting, the young man Kabiye won with bravery and wisdom, and the intruders left the mountains and forests dejectedly. Inspired by the victory, the Kabiye people saw the huge impact of the victory in wrestling, so wrestling began to prosper.
Every July, continuous drizzle falls among the mountains and mountains of Togo. The oppressive heat subsides, small animals in the tropical rainforest are active again, and the Kabiye wrestling festival has also begun and lasts for a week. This is the most solemn festival in Togo and the happiest time for Togolese people. The wrestling competition has become major news in Togo, with factory broadcasts, television and newspapers reporting the competition with front-page headlines.
The competition here is a village-based competition. All male young people aged 18-21 and over must participate in the competition, and the final result is determined by the total score. Winners are naturally happy and cheering, but losers are not downcast, because undergoing training and testing is the only way to success. Those who are discriminated against are those who do not participate in wrestling competitions because they are afraid of hardship and lack will. Once you reach the age and don't participate in the competition, you are a coward who can't get a daughter-in-law.
During this week-long festival, wrestling competitions require layers of selection to finally select this year's champion. During the game, everyone from the president to the people had to watch the game in person to cheer up, and foreign friends also came to watch. The atmosphere in the stadium was warm and tense. A chief dressed in traditional attire serves as the referee, and the players have gone through years of training and strict selection.
As the players twisted together, African drums and cheers sounded. The fierce scene reminded people of the struggle between the Kabye ancestors and foreign invaders with their bare hands during the tribal separatist era. Only by participating in open wrestling competitions for three consecutive years can Kabiya youth be eligible to become official members of their tribe and are they allowed to marry and start a family. Naturally, through competitions, the winner will be favored by beautiful girls.
