In Kano City, Northern Nigeria, crowds gather to watch local heroes face off in the ancient Hausa martial art of Dambe. Part battle, part dance, part live mythology, it’s a cultural tradition that has survived and thrived in the region, despite invasion, famine, British colonialism and attacks by Boko Haram. In Dambe’s lightning-fast bouts, against a hypnotic soundtrack of live drumming and improvised praise songs, conflicts erupt, rivalries are formed and legends are made.
In Kano City, Northern Nigeria, crowds gather to watch local heroes face off in the ancient Hausa martial art of Dambe. Part battle, part dance, part live mythology, it’s a cultural tradition that has survived and thrived in the region, despite invasion, famine, British colonialism and attacks by Boko Haram. In Dambe’s lightning-fast bouts, against a hypnotic soundtrack of live drumming and improvised praise songs, conflicts erupt, rivalries are formed and legends are made.
Adam Warren
,
