A wrestler trains for a final fight in the Iba Mar Diop stadium, a part of the Medina district of Dakar. This match is endowed with 7,000 CFA (approx. 1,200 US dollar). For preparation, he dances by himself to ear-deafening hypnotic drums and repetitive songs in a state similar to a trance. © Christian Bobst
A tournament in the Adrien Senghor arena in Dakar gets towards the end. Because it is too hot during the day, the competitions always take place in the evening and often last until midnight. © Christian Bobst
The Wrestler Kherou Ngor trains with his boxing teacher on the beach of Ngor in Dakar. Many wrestling stars train on the beaches of Dakar—for the locals this is always a welcome entertainment. Although not all versions of Senegalese wrestling involve boxing, training with punches provides a king's discipline for the real matches. © Christian Bobst
A poster in a street of Dakar advertises a wrestling match between Balla Gaye 2 and Emeu Sene, two superstars of the Senegalese wrestling. La Lutte translated into the local language, Woloff, is "Lamb," the most popular and commercially most successful sport in Senegal. It has grown even more popular than football. March 30, 2015. © Christian Bobst
Superstar Balla Gaye 2 comforts his fans on the terrace of his house in Guédiawaye, after he lost a big fight against his opponent Emeu Sene on April 5. His followers praise his friendly, open, kind manner, while his opponents accuse that he gained an unnatural amount of muscles and weight during his training in the USA. Dakar, April 10, 2015. © Christian Bobst
The ex-wrestler Lac de Guiers pursues an important wrestling match on television with his family, like hundreds of thousands of other Senegalese people on Saturday afternoons. Dakar, April 4, 2015. © Christian Bobst
Kherou Ngor, a young wrestling champion, washes himself with milk at the shore of Ngor outside Dakar. He performs this ritual in order to obtain the reinforcement of a ghost who lives in the stones at the shore. August 11, 2015. © Christian Bobst
A shaman prepares before a match at the Cham—a place of worship for the ancestors of the family of the wrestler. His ritual includes using plant milk as a sacrifice. Witchcraft plays a big part in Senegalese wrestling. April 5, 2015. © Christian Bobst
A young girl in Ngor wears a T-Shirt of the local wrestling champion Kherou Nor. The wrestlers' faces are popular subjects for T-shirts in Senegal. Because of the influence of the big sponsors, wrestling has become a trendy sport, which interests not only old men, but also young girls. Dakar, August 12, 2015. © Christian Bobst
Even young girls like Aissa, 23, the waitress of the "Black and White" bar on the beach of Ngor, read the newspaper "Sunu Lamb," which publishes daily and focuses exclusively on Senegalese wrestling matches. Dakar, April 9, 2015. © Christian Bobst
The women and children from the Senegalese village Soune have assembled to watch the men fight in a wrestling match. Although the matches have become big business, some wrestling is still done at village celebrations, in a more traditional manner. April 4, 2012. © Christian Bobst
Young men prepare themselves for a wrestling match in a village. The wrestlers wrap a cloth around their abdomens where the wrestlers hold each other during the fight. April 11. 2015. © Christian Bobst
Ex-wrestler Lac de Guiers poses in front of the Mar Diop stadium on March 29, 2015. It was here, in his fight against the wrestler Commando that a new chapter of wrestling history was written. With his targeted, hard punches Lac de Guiers sent the much taller favorite to the ground by knockout. Today he's the owner of a wrestling school. © Christian Bobst
Wrestlers compete in the wrestling school of ex-wrestler Balla Gaye. The star wrestler Balla Gaye and many other successful wrestlers have arisen from this famous school, which was the first official wrestling school in Senegal. August 10, 2015. © Christian Bobst
Balla Gaye 2 releases several pigeons in the stadium of Demba Diop before his big match against Emeu Sene. The prize: 200 millions CFA (~300,000 USD). The release of the pigeons is a mystic ritual which should bring luck. The wrestler, whose real name is Sakko, became a superstar in Senegal in 2012 after he dethroned Yekini, the unbeaten champion for 15 straight years. April 5, 2015. © Christian Bobst
Over 20,000 fans gather to attend the fight between the wrestling champions Balla Gaye 2 and Emeu Sene at the sold-out soccer stadium Demba Diop in Dakar. Each wrestler has his own fans who support him and are engrossed in the fight. Many of them hold up posters and banners with pictures of their preferred wrestler. April 5, 2015. © Christian Bobst
BB Bismi Ndoye defeats the wrestler Maraka Dji in the Demba Diop stadium, in a fight on April 5, 2015. Some fights last no longer than 90 seconds—only a few last more than 15 minutes. © Christian Bobst
On two sides of the street, groups are watching the wrestling match on television during Senegalese Independence Day. The Senegalese people celebrate Independence Day traditionally with some major wrestling fights. Almost the entire population in Senegal, from small children to old women, follow the wrestling matches on TV or, if possible, at the stadium. April 4, Dakar, Senegal. © Christian Bobst
The audience and press storm the arena after the final fight to celebrate the winner. The winner can count himself happy; he has just won prize money worth 12,000 dollars. In Senegal, that's a lot of money. Iba Mar Diop stadium, Dakar, March 29, 2015. © Christian Bobst
A wrestler during a ritual washing in the river of the Djilass village. The big city of Dakar attracts many wrestlers who are successful in the countryside because it's in the bigger cities where one can win high prize money. April 1, 2015. © Christian Bobst
This is an extended edit of a documentary project on La Lutte, Senegalese traditional wrestling. The original project was named a finalist in the LensCulture Visual Storytelling Awards 2015. Discover more inspiring work from all of the winners and finalists.
