The Sudanese Wrestling Federation is communicating with international organizations to obtain international recognition for this sport through a recently updated rule book to unify the way tribes play it.
“We are at the level of the Sudanese Wrestling Federation, after the establishment of the federation in October of 2001, we had to put in place laws governing this sport, laws that are common to all so that the competitors always resort to them at the level of sports, the sport of wrestling… “
“Thank God, now the laws have become clear, the laws have become known to all, there must be a victory, although we see some matches end in a draw, but these matches are friendly matches, but when there is real competition, the competition that can qualify one to reach the stage of winning the gold medal There has to be a winner.”
Competitors usually practice Nuba wrestling in ceremonial matches marking the end of the harvest season, and each tribe plays it differently. Kabu explained that the need to unify the rules of the game arose when tribal members moved to Khartoum and established wrestling rings.
Since then, Nuba wrestling has become a popular sport in the rest of the country, attracting not only men, but also women and children.
Kabo added, “We are working seriously to make Sudanese wrestling, with this great name, Nuba wrestling, with this name that can give privacy, that it will be present, God willing, at the level of Olympic sports in the near future. We are also currently working with the Olympic Committee and with the International Federation.” This matter requires tremendous effort and takes a long time.
Nuba wrestling ritual
- On the day of the match, wrestlers arrive in the arena wearing shorts and T-shirts, their bodies covered with sand and white ash.
- Wrestlers compete using legs and arms, and the winner of the round is the one who can knock his opponent to the ground.
- Each wrestler must undergo several rituals before they start facing their opponents, as they follow a diet of different types of traditional foods such as meat, honey and other local mixtures.
- The Sudanese Wrestling Federation is working on translating the rule book and submitting it to the International Wrestling Federation in order for the game to be recognized as an international sport and to be registered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Kabo said, “We are moving well in making the sport of wrestling a known sport, a sport that is practiced according to clear law, as well as this law that we are now working on translating to raise it to the International Wrestling Federation so that this sport is considered a global sport.”
The “Land of Light” festival was held on the sixth and seventh of January in Khartoum and included many cultural activities, including wrestling, rafting in the Blue Nile and folk dancing with swords, with the aim of showcasing Sudan’s heritage and culture.
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