Although Dambe is very popular in Northern Nigeria, attracting a good number of fighters and spectators, it can’t be regarded as a standard sport yet.
Known for its brutality, Dambe is a form of traditional boxing that is said to be as old as the Hausa people. It was originally a way of practising military skills, but with its comeback, it has fast become a form of entertainment in Nigeria.
Unlike other combat sports like mixed martial arts, it doesn’t have formal weight classes, there are no uniforms and there are hardly any rules.
However, two groups have set out to change this with the hope of exporting it to other countries. The New York Times reports that one is a promotional outfit called Dambe Warriors and the other is the Nigeria Traditional Boxing League Association, a league of clubs.
Founded by Chidi Anyina and Anthony Okeleke, Dambe Warriors uses the media to recast the boxing for a modern audience. The outfit promotes fights through YouTube and live events, giving people across the world a chance to experience the rawness and reality of the ancient sport.
In addition to setting up a regular-season and drafting a complete set of rules, the league has designed uniforms for fighters, limited rounds to three minutes, created a system for scoring fights and included a code of conduct that will ensure spectators behave. They’ve also hired a doctor to monitor fights.
With ten clubs currently registered, soon we may have a full-fledged league that cuts beyond Nigeria
