South Sudanese clash for unity in wrestling bout

South Sudanese battle each other during South Sudanese cultural wrestling at Nakuru ASK Show ground on Auigust 30, 2019. [Harun Wathari,Standard]

As the evening wore on, a light drizzle cooled the surging excitement in the packed arena as wrestling opponents battled to keep tradition alive.

The clock ticked seemingly as fast as the pounding hearts that filled the Nakuru ASK Showground. The cheers grew wilder as the players battled to outdo each other, their stature bent, their hands ready to grab and topple their rival.

The sport is a unique one, one that has survived generations in South Sudan, and still flows in the country's descendants who converged in Nakuru, thousands of kilometres from home.

Friendly match

Atem Garang and Majuch Akol are the men of the moment. They have to battle it out to see who will slam the other without injuring them, according to the rules of the game.

They lock hands and try to trip each other in a friendly match that drew competitors from Nakuru and Nairobi.

Each is gasping, trying to figure out how to survive the cultural match. Every move matches the crescendo of the ecstatic crowd. The sport is significant in bringing South Sudanese communities together.

“This is the best sport, and it is part of our history. It brings us together to keep traditions intact, even as we seek refuge here in Kenya. It also gives young children the opportunity to experience and learn their culture as they grow,” Ayiethson Diing, the chair of the Nakuru wrestling teamm, said.

This time, the Sudanese community in Nakuru County hosted the sport, which draws stiff competition and requires quite a bit of training to master.

“We practise the sport every holiday when schools close in a move to bring us all together,” Mr Diing said.

Mr Garang soon overpowers Mr Akol after tactfully letting him land on his stomach, ushering in another set of opponents.

“Wrestling runs in my veins. I come from a lineage of great wrestlers,” Garang said, adding a spring to his step. Akol will fight another day, as he too comes from a family that wrestles.

The unique sport that captivates locals is only properly understood by those who treasure its cultural significance. The goal is to slam the opponent to the ground without boxing them.

One has to tactfully manoeuvre around an opponent’s legs, trip them over so they land flat on the ground. The game takes two minutes within which, if no one wins, other opponents drawn from the two teams are ushered in. Each team comprises 15 members, and its fans form the cheering squad and don traditional attire.

Traditional regalia

The opponents wear traditional regalia, some with animal-printed garments and others wear leopard skins. The men do not wear shirts, instead, they dust chalk on their bodies before springing into the battle of wits.

“Injuries are rare and the sport has a large fan base. It is a chance for the community to catch up with one another and introduce their children to their heritage and community,” Diing said, adding that the entry levies for the game are used for charitable initiatives.

The winner gets carried shoulder high and celebrated.

“The winner does not get a prize. The money we collect supports our charity programmes and also helps organise and facilitate such cultural events that bring the community together from several areas across the country."