Dambe is more than just a fistfight; it's deeply rooted in the tradition of the Nigeria's northerners. The sport has caught the attention of the federal government, but kickboxing champion Jibrin Inuwa Baba has called for the risky game to be modernized while upholding its culture and tradition.
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00:00In the world of combat sports, Dambe stands as a martial art deeply ingrained in the Hausa culture of Nigeria.
00:07Competitors in a Dambe match seek to overpower each other, aiming for total submission within three rounds.
00:14Dambe has evolved over time, and Nigeria's federal government intends to mainstream it as a sporting activity.
00:20As dusk settles, the local fighters prepare for their battles in the Dambe arena, and Jibrin arrives to witness the spectacle.
00:29This is a place where people buy tickets and come and watch the heroes.
00:32When I started, I could fight for free, just to beat this guy, to beat this guy, and people would chant my name.
00:36The motivation for coming here is not all about money sometimes, it's all about being a hero.
00:41It's just like gladiator, gladiator of the ancient times.
00:44Jibrin, a seasoned MMA fighter, still carries the spirit of Dambe within him.
00:49He shares insights into the art, emphasizing the precision required in every move.
00:54You pull with one hand, and then you hit with the other hand.
01:00In no account should you punch with this hand.
01:03Only kicks to the upper body, here, stomach or head.
01:06There is no elbow, no knee, no grappling, no takedowns.
01:09Whenever there is a clinch, they will separate you guys, you have to hit each other.
01:14In Dambe, victory or a kill means knocking your opponent down or forcing them out of the ring.
01:20For Dambe competitors, the primary weapon is the strong side fist, also locally known as the spear or amulet.
01:27It's basically the fist wrapped in a piece of cloth covered by a tightly knotted cord,
01:32but should be infused with tradition and power, Jibrin says.
01:40We have a lot of tradition with Dambe. We have the music.
01:51Two, there are charms. The amulet we wear are made by some native doctors around us.
01:57When you put them in, you feel that your hand is heavy, it's spiritual.
02:01Some will tell you they got something from the holy books.
02:04Some will tell you, okay, they cut the hair of this animal.
02:07Some will use the skin of an animal that they know the skin is harmful to the body.
02:13Some people, they used to bury their hand in the graveyard, you understand?
02:17Yeah, in the grave. And then they bring it out and then they come to fight with it.
02:21When they hit somebody, you get concussed.
02:24As the knockout chaos culminates, the visible and unseen scars must be healed.
02:29This is done through breaking a meal together.
02:32Jibrin invites his fellow fighters to share food on the same table,
02:36to repair the scars and to discuss the future of their sporting career.
02:40But amid the development, Jibrin's concerns lingers.
02:43Yesterday, there was this guy that was hit in the head, you know, very badly.
02:47And then he went, he was concussed, I'm telling you.
02:50Then I advised him, let's come to the hospital today for a brain checkup.
02:55But the guy refused to come.
02:56The problem is that we, as athletes, we don't want to take care of ourselves, of our health, you understand?
03:01Dambe itself is good. It's a very good sport, you understand?
03:04It's a very good sport.
03:06We don't want to take care of ourselves, of our health, you understand?
03:09Dambe itself is good. It's a very good sport, you understand?
03:12It shows bravery, you know, it's our culture.
03:15We love our Dambe, it's our culture.
03:17But the people, we, we ourselves, we are the problem, you understand?
03:20We don't want to come for checkup. We don't want to modernize it.
03:23In order to make Dambe more professional, you know, we need to start taking care of our health
03:28in order to preserve our tradition, you know, we have to do that.
03:31After a decade-long hiatus from Dambe, Jibrin steps back into the ring,
03:35eager to entertain his people once more.
03:37This evening I'm going to get back to my root.
03:40The last time I fought in Dambe match here in this arena was 2013.
03:43So that's why I'm back, you know, to see that after 10 years I can still come back and compete.
03:48I'm not nervous because I've been in a bigger stage than this.
03:51With each kick and strike, Jibrin dominates, proving that his skills are as sharp as ever.
03:59It's been long I've played this game, so I've been away for a while.
04:03But I wanted to show them that I still got it, you know.
04:07As his opponent falters, Jibrin's victory is not just his own.
04:11It's a triumph for tradition and perseverance.