The Road to Kadiogne: [05] Dakar -- Wrestling Match

[05] Dakar -- Wrestling Match <-- Previous \| Return to Table of Contents \| Next -->
					We attended a traditional wrestling match at the Dakar stadium. Photograph by Luke Klein
The spectacle (which consisted of four preliminary matches and the main event) ran several hours and began with a long build-up of drumming, dancing, and singing. Photograph by Luke Klein
					Photograph by Michelle Schmitt
We paid a little extra for seats in the covered section of the stadium. [left to right: Amadou, Cheikh, Mark, Laura, Michelle, and Diane] Photograph by Luke Klein
					Cheikh and Amadou Photograph by Luke Klein
Here, Gris Bordeaux (one of the wrestlers for the main event) makes his appearance, surrounded by his entourage. Gris Bordeaux is from Fass, and the entire section of the audience where we were sitting supported him. Photograph by Luke Klein
					Here, Tyson II (the other wrestler for the main event) makes his appearance. Photograph by Michelle Schmitt
During the entire build-up and preliminary matches, the wrestlers for the main event would run back and forth between each other's corner of the field, taunting the opponent. Here, Gris Bordeaux makes his way to Tyson II's corner of the field. Photograph by Luke Klein
					The uncovered section of the stadium seemed a bit unruly at times. People were lighting flares, and at one point a fight broke out among the fans. Photograph by Michelle Schmitt
Police in riot gear responded to the fight in the uncovered section of the stadium. A couple of people had been injured in the scuffle, and they carried them down onto the field to be treated by the fight doctors. Photograph by Luke Klein
					Cheikh and Luke Photograph by Michelle Schmitt
A match is won by knocking one's opponent onto his back or butt. The traditional Senegalese wrestling relies on grappling alone, but in Dakar they've now thrown in bare-knuckle punching. Photograph by Luke Klein
					Gris Bordeaux won the main event, and the crowd went wild. Here, Gris Bordeaux, still wearing only the tiny wrestling outfit, is ushered through the adoring crowd to his waiting car. Photograph by Luke Klein

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