In most cases, when one hears about martial arts, all they think about are the Chinese kungfu, Japanese, and perhaps Brazilian jiu-jitsu. However, Africa also has a diverse martial arts culture. This article will focus on some famous martial arts styles in Africa.
Dambe
It is a particular type of martial art common among the Hausas of west Africa. The name Dambe originally came from the Hausa word boxe. Although it is common among Hausa, the competing parties always sustain severe injuries such as broken jaws and ribs.
This style of fighting is similar to what Ancient Egyptians and Hellenistic boxers did. The latter also wrapped knots around the strongest parts of their arm. Therefore there has been so much debate on who might have copied the other.
Unlike modern-day wrestling and martial arts, the referees matched the dambe fighters per their sizes. There were no weight measurements for the people in charge of the fight approximated the fighters’ weight. The dambe matches only lasted three rounds. However, these rounds did not have a time limit. Instead, they depended on whether one of the fighters calls for a stop, knocked the ground, or when there was no activity ongoing.
During the fight, the primary weapon was the healthy side of one’s arm. The competitor covered this side tightly with a cord. Back then, some fighters would dip their knotted fist in mixed with broken glass. The knotted fist in this game represents the spear, while the lead hand symbolizes the shield.
Amid this game, the fighter uses the lead hand, which is the shield, to grab and hold the opponent. There is also the leg, which the fighter wrap in chains and use for both attacking and defending. Meanwhile, the fighters use the unwrapped leg to throw kicks. And since the match’s primary objective is to ensure one person knocks the ground. And that one person would become the loser.
Other than Dambe being a way for the community members to test their strength, it was also a mode of preparation which the men used before going to warfares.
Engolo
Engolo or Ngolo is a Kikongo word that means strength. This type of martial art is prominent among the inhabitants living around River Cunene and southern Angola. Engolo involves several fighting styles. Kicks, dodges, and leg sweeps are but a few. To some extend, Engolo is kind of similar to the Brazilian fighting style of Capoeira; however, it puts so much emphasis on inverted positions.
Capoeira, which is a Brazilian fighting style, evolved around the 26th Century. The African slaves in Brazil were responsible for inventing this style. Because the Portuguese colonies who had detained them in Brazil prohibited them from learning any form of fighting, the slaves hid their strikes behind songs. Hence that’s why rhythmic songs accompany Capoeira.
According to Neves e Sousa, a famous Portuguese artist, Engolo marked was a right of passage. In that, young men seeking a girl’s hand in marriage would engage in an engolo combat. The winner would then take the girl home to be his wife. Dr. Desch, who has researched this style, states that it is a fighting style influenced by the way zebras fight.
Istunka
It is a predominant style of fighting among the Somalis, especially the people of Afgooye. The latter developed Istunka in the Middle Age, at the time of the Ajuran period. The Somalis celebrated the Istunka tournament each year together with other festivals. During ancient times, Istunka ceremonies involved two groups competing against each other.
Each of the groups had separate poets, female groups, and dance supporters who cheered them. However, with modern civilization, the Istunka ceremony evolved into a local attraction, and the people in southern Afgooye still celebrate it each year.
What Happens During the Istunka Fight.
During Istunka, the fighters always mock each other. The mock fight is a significant step as it resembles the honor and defense they had for their community. Most of the time, Istunka fights happened during the onset of the harvesting season. Initially, the Istunka fight involved battle axes, swords, daggers, and full battle gear. However, for safety purposes, the Istunka fighters replaced the weapons with big sticks. This style of art involves defensive and striking combat techniques using posts.
Senegalese Wrestling
This style of wrestling originated from the Serer people. Initially, the Senegalese warriors used this style of fighting as a preparatory exercise for war. According to the Serer traditional, wrestling comprises of four different techniques. Mbapate being one of them. Moreover, wrestling was also a rite of passage among the Serers.
The Serers refer to wrestling as njom. The latter comes from the Serer Principle of Jom, which comes from the Serer religion. Jom principle covers diverse information on values and beliefs on economic, ecological, personal, and social. How does wrestling relate to the Jom principle? Wrestling falls under the personal values, which is a branch of the Jom Principle.
One of the most famous wrestlers in Senegambia was Boukar Djilak Faye. He lived in the Kingdom of Sine, and it was around the 14th Century. History documents Faye as an ancestor of the Faye Paternal Royal Dynasty of Sine, which is Senegal. Meanwhile, there exists a connection between Wolof and Serer wrestling. The Wolof word for wrestling, which is Lamb, originated from the Serer language Fara Lamb. The Lamb referred to the songs the Serers sang during wrestling competitions.
Wrestling is one of the fighting styles, which requires one to be physically fit and full of energy. Before participating in wrestling, Senegalese wrestlers train extremely hard. They engage in numerous heavy task exercises which consume a lot of their strength. Physical activities, such as press-ups, are just but one of the main exercises.
However, as much as wrestlers believe that winning depends on one’s strength, luck is also an aspect. And thus, they perform rituals before a match because they think it increases their chances of winning. The Senegalese wrestlers also rub their foot on a stone or lotions to promote more good luck.
Nuba Fighting Style
This type of martial art is common among the Sudanese. It consists of stick fighting and wrestling as techniques. Nuba is a traditional fighting style that originated from the Nuba mountains found in the South Kordofan, in southern Sudan. Most Nuba festivals among the Sudanese occur during planting and harvesting seasons. During these ceremonies, the purpose of wrestling is to build a sense of identity and show a group’s process. This is because, during the Nuba matches, the youths represent their villages other than themselves.
During Nuba ceremonies, the competing parties wear little fighting armors armed with spears and shields. During the wrestling, the fighters grab each other intending to make the opponent hit the ground. Although it is associated with strikes, it does not involve submission or pinning. In that, it does not include a boxing technique like the Hausa Dambe. Apparently, in traditional African societies, the fighters fought naked. But today, the wrestlers dress in T-shirts and shorts. Meanwhile, stick fighting involved using small armor and shields to avoid severe injuries as the fighters used spears during the combat.
Training of Nuba depends on two aspects; practicing under the supervision of a former Nuba champion, performing in traditional dances, and learning the songs. Face to face training in most cases, is always efficient. This is because one gets a hundred percent attention from the trainer, who quickly spots mistakes and suggests a correction. In fact, after fast hand training, the learner is much more equipped compared to the virtual.
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Significance Of Martial Arts
For some reason, martial arts is an ancient activity, yet modern societies still embrace it. It is because it plays an essential role in the lives of people. Nowadays, not only do adults engage in martial arts, but they also enroll their kids. First and foremost, martial arts is an easier way to improve one’s focus and discipline. Once one enrolls in these classes, their desire, and determination to learn to motivate them. And as such, they become disciplined and ensure to never miss out on any of the practices.
Then there are other significant reasons which almost everyone knows. Martial arts equip a learner with a skill of self-defense. There is no doubt we live in a cruel world with so much violence. Therefore being ready for anything comes in handy. Hence with the right training, learners attain the best fighting skills to defend themselves when in danger.
Also, martial arts help to maintain good health. This is because martial arts training is a whole working out process. To be able to build stamina, strength, and flexibility, one needs to train intensively. When one’s body becomes strong and feels relaxed, they breathe better, blood flows freely in their body, their body pressure is stable, and those all contribute to good health.
Martial arts also promote the right state of mind. While training for, e.g., wrestling, the fighter performs several workouts that help relieve the mind. As a result, the fighter becomes open-minded has freed his mind from stress.
