Were There Advantages Of Traditional Wrestling Of The Igbo People Or Was It Just An Observance Of A Mere Culture?

By Okechukwu OKugo

From ancient times, sporting has been a part of the culture of people all over the world. Examples are the Olympic observance of the ancient Greeks and the gladiatorial fights of the Romans etc. Thus, the Igbo people of West Africa were not left behind in these types of sporting cultural observance.

There were certain things that would culturally bestow honor on both men and women in Igbo societies, and one of such things, which though in this case, was exclusively reserved for the menfolk was traditional wrestling. Male folks of different age brackets engage in it. It can be a leisure activity or a big communal event.

Unlike the western style of wrestling or other sporting activities, which had involved a lot of blood and gore, with extreme violence that had in many cases led to people losing their lives participating, Igbo traditional wrestling does not involve any violence. It basically seeks to search out among two people, the one with more strength, courage, resilience, and physical power, who will succeed to make his opponent's back touch the soil of Igboland. 

Understandably, the corresponding struggles and the grapple to hold the other's body parts, to find a leverage that will enable the other lift his opponent high in the air, before cheering spectators who would usually gather at the village square to witness the contest. 

Traditional wrestling is a culture of the Igbos and many other African ethnic nationalities. Contests can be organized between two different villages in which each one presents their champions to represent their entire community.

Much communal prestige is bestowed on the contestants such that it is regarded that the one who had won in the contest had brought honor to the entire village. And this explains why the champions of various villages were regarded with honor and respected among the male folks and admired among all the village maidens. 

Most times, in the olden days, families from whom the champion would be seeking the hand of their daughters in marriage were regarded as privileged families; and in most cases, the most beautiful belles were reserved for them.

One of the numerous advantages of this tradition was that, in certain cases, it had served as a protection for the entire community. This is because, villages in which it's known that there are many gallant and valiant men who perform well in these traditional wrestling contests, were very famous, and regarded as strong and courageous people. 
As such, their neighbors would not want to go up to them in communal skirmishes or warfare. In cases, when certain disputes like land tussles, arose among the people and their neighbors, they would seek to resolve their matters through dialogue than facing them in tribal battles.