Modern Senegalese wrestling — Tyson and Yékini

1990 – 2010 · Dakar

An ancestral village sport, wrestling with strikes (lamb) became a genuine social phenomenon in the 1990s. In 1997, the arrival of Mohamed Ndao 'Tyson' turned the discipline into a sport-business, sent fees soaring and thrilled urban youth. Then Yakhya Diop 'Yékini', crowned King of the Arenas, reigned supreme through nearly fifteen years of invincibility. Wrestling became the national sport, followed by immense crowds.

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