Oussouye, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - At the Festival of the King of Oussouye, girls and young women participate in traditional wrestling as well as the men. The area, in Senegal’s southern Casamance region, is home to most of the country’s female wrestlers. Almost every year, coaches from the Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team - who compete in the African Championships and Olympics when they qualify - come to the festival to scout new talent. Although the festival features traditional Senegalese wrestling, which differs in style and rules from freestyle, Greco-Roman wrestling that is practices at the international level, the strength and skills of the two are similar enough, says Senegal Men’s Wrestling Head Coach, Lansana Coly. Coly is from the Casamance region, and he began the women’s team 30 years ago with three wrestlers, whom he recruited at the 1996 Festival of the King of Oussouye. (Published in Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/monicamark/meet-the-badass-women-wrestlers-of-senegal
Oussouye, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - Girls and young women wrestle at the Festival of the King of Oussouye, where they can compete in traditional wrestling as well as the men. After winning, the young women are doused with white powder as a congratulatory tradition. The area, in Senegal’s southern Casamance region, is home to most of the country’s female wrestlers. Almost every year, coaches from the Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team - who compete in the African Championships and Olympics when they qualify - come to the festival to scout new talent. Although the festival features traditional Senegalese wrestling, which differs in style and rules from freestyle, Greco-Roman wrestling that is practices at the international level, the strength and skills of the two are similar enough, says Senegal Men’s Wrestling Head Coach, Lansana Coly. Coly is from the Casamance region, and he began the women’s team 30 years ago with three wrestlers, whom he recruited at the 1996 Festival of the King of Oussouye.
Oussouye Senegal (September 28, 2017) - Aissatou Manga, 23, used to wrestle at Festival of the King of Oussouye, but now she just watches.
Oussouye Senegal (September 28, 2017) - At the Festival of the King of Oussouye's one of the main events is wrestling. The boys and men take the fields first, then the next day the women wrestle.
Oussouye, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - At the Festival of the King of Oussouye, girls and young women participate in traditional wrestling as well as the men. Black and dark, indigo blue are the traditional colors to wear if you are going to wrestle, though many people wear other colors these days, said Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team coach, Eveline Diatta. Girls and young women often wear beads to dance and support the male wrestlers, before removing the decorations to then wrestle themselves.
Oussouye, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - At the Festival of the King of Oussouye, girls and young women participate in traditional wrestling as well as the men. Black and dark, indigo blue are the traditional colors to wear if you are going to wrestle, though many people wear other colors these days, said Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team coach, Eveline Diatta. Girls and young women often wear beads to dance and support the male wrestlers, before removing the decorations to then wrestle themselves.
Oussouye, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - At the Festival of the King of Oussouye, girls and young women participate in traditional wrestling as well as the men. Black and dark, indigo blue are the traditional colors to wear if you are going to wrestle, though many people wear other colors these days, said Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team coach, Eveline Diatta. Girls and young women often wear beads to dance and support the male wrestlers, before removing the decorations to then wrestle themselves.
Mlomp, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - Binette Diatta, 23, is a member of the Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team. She was recruited after her family, including women’s national coach Eveline Diatta, saw how good she was at traditional wrestling. At first she turned down offers to train and join the team, but eventually her aunt persuaded her to join. She says wrestling has given her a confidence she did not have before.
Mlomp, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - Binette Diatta, 23, is a member of the Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team. She was recruited after her family, including women’s national coach Eveline Diatta, saw how good she was at traditional wrestling. At first she turned down offers to train and join the team, but eventually her aunt persuaded her to join. She says wrestling has given her a confidence she did not have before.
Mlomp, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - Binette Diatta, 23, is a member of the Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team. She was recruited after her family, including women’s national coach Eveline Diatta, saw how good she was at traditional wrestling. At first she turned down offers to train and join the team, but eventually her aunt persuaded her to join. She says wrestling has given her a confidence she did not have before.
Isabelle Sambou, one of the Senegal National Wrestling team's most succesful members.
Eveline Diatta, Head Coach of Senegal Women's National Wrestling team,
Mlomp, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - Binette Diatta, 23, is a member of the Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team. She was recruited after her family, including women’s national coach Eveline Diatta, saw how good she was at traditional wrestling. At first she turned down offers to train and join the team, but eventually her aunt persuaded her to join. She says wrestling has given her a confidence she did not have before.
Oussouye, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - At the Festival of the King of Oussouye, girls and young women participate in traditional wrestling as well as the men.
Oussouye, Senegal (September 29, 2017) - At the Festival of the King of Oussouye, girls and young women participate in traditional wrestling as well as the men. Black and dark, indigo blue are the traditional colors to wear if you are going to wrestle, though many people wear other colors these days, said Senegal Women’s National Wrestling Team coach, Eveline Diatta. Girls and young women often wear beads to dance and support the male wrestlers, before removing the decorations to then wrestle themselves.