Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism
Traditional wrestling occupies pride of place in Niger, compared to other sports and cultural activities. Interest in traditional wrestling is widespread among Nigériens from all walks of life: young men, adults, senior citizens, young women, mature women, adult men, handicapped persons, prisoners,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Association
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Tydskrif vir Letterkunde |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/7624 |
| _version_ | 1818578404560076800 |
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| author | Mahaman L. Sériba |
| author_facet | Mahaman L. Sériba |
| author_sort | Mahaman L. Sériba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional wrestling occupies pride of place in Niger, compared to other sports and cultural activities. Interest in traditional wrestling is widespread among Nigériens from all walks of life: young men, adults, senior citizens, young women, mature women, adult men, handicapped persons, prisoners, peasant farmers, civil servants, artisans, housewives, politicians, marabouts (Muslim religious leaders/imams), féticheurs (animist priests), griots (wandering poets/musicians), trainers, researchers, journalists, labourers … In short, it can be asserted that traditional wrestling is firmly entrenched in Nigérien culture and generates unequalled enthusiasm. This unwavering popularity, built up over the years, is the result of the transposition of certain traits of political, social, cultural, sporting and economic life of Nigérien society into the National Championships of Traditional Wrestling. These championships, held in the various regions of the country, in turn, were institutionalised in 1975 by the government. This official intervention transformed traditional wrestling into a “great sport”, the king of sports in Niger. The predominant presence of the state administration in the organisation and management of the championships is justified by the official pursuit of national unity and social cohesion through the promotion of this sporting heritage. Cultural elements, like the opening prayer (fatiah), praise poems (take), poems of self-praise (kirari), formal salutations (gaysuwa), the giving of gifts and gratuities (kari), the wearing of charms (gris-gris) and the enthronement of the champion, transposed from the life of Nigérien society to the arena of the National Wrestling Championships, are the basis for the people’s support of the championships and their identification with wrestling and wrestlers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T06:45:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-510cd089827f4d5c9d97d2a4360a238c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0041-476X 2309-9070 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T06:45:16Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tydskrif vir Letterkunde |
| spelling | doaj.art-510cd089827f4d5c9d97d2a4360a238c2022-12-21T22:40:34ZafrTydskrif vir Letterkunde AssociationTydskrif vir Letterkunde0041-476X2309-90702019-11-01422Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolismMahaman L. Sériba0The National Institute for Youth and Sports, Niamey, NigerTraditional wrestling occupies pride of place in Niger, compared to other sports and cultural activities. Interest in traditional wrestling is widespread among Nigériens from all walks of life: young men, adults, senior citizens, young women, mature women, adult men, handicapped persons, prisoners, peasant farmers, civil servants, artisans, housewives, politicians, marabouts (Muslim religious leaders/imams), féticheurs (animist priests), griots (wandering poets/musicians), trainers, researchers, journalists, labourers … In short, it can be asserted that traditional wrestling is firmly entrenched in Nigérien culture and generates unequalled enthusiasm. This unwavering popularity, built up over the years, is the result of the transposition of certain traits of political, social, cultural, sporting and economic life of Nigérien society into the National Championships of Traditional Wrestling. These championships, held in the various regions of the country, in turn, were institutionalised in 1975 by the government. This official intervention transformed traditional wrestling into a “great sport”, the king of sports in Niger. The predominant presence of the state administration in the organisation and management of the championships is justified by the official pursuit of national unity and social cohesion through the promotion of this sporting heritage. Cultural elements, like the opening prayer (fatiah), praise poems (take), poems of self-praise (kirari), formal salutations (gaysuwa), the giving of gifts and gratuities (kari), the wearing of charms (gris-gris) and the enthronement of the champion, transposed from the life of Nigérien society to the arena of the National Wrestling Championships, are the basis for the people’s support of the championships and their identification with wrestling and wrestlers.https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/7624Nigérien identitywrestlingpraise poetryself-praise poetry |
| spellingShingle | Mahaman L. Sériba Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Nigérien identity wrestling praise poetry self-praise poetry |
| title | Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism |
| title_full | Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism |
| title_fullStr | Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism |
| title_short | Traditional Wrestling in Niger: Between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism |
| title_sort | traditional wrestling in niger between state voluntarism and ancestral symbolism |
| topic | Nigérien identity wrestling praise poetry self-praise poetry |
| url | https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/7624 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mahamanlseriba traditionalwrestlinginnigerbetweenstatevoluntarismandancestralsymbolism |