During the lutte, I learned that Senegalese wrestling is unique because it includes singing, dancing, poetry and mystic rituals. Before a fight, a wrestler will visit a marabout (Senegalese religious leader) for advice and to perform rituals that will give the wrestler strength and protection. The marabout also gives the wrestler gris-gris, which are charms that the wrestler wears to increase their chance of winning. Wrestlers also cover themselves in special water, which makes them harder to grasp. Throughout the entire lutte you will hear singing and drumming to motivate the wrestlers. Men also dance to show their strength.
When I attended the lutte, I was amazed by the music because it seemed to match the rhythm of the wrestlers! It was super cool that even in a small village, hundreds of people watch the luttes!
Luttes were initially practiced by the Serrer ethnic group (the same ethnic group as my host family) to train warrors for battle. Over time though, this tradition spread to other ethnic groups and is now practiced all over Senegal and The Gambia. Today, luttes incorporate singing, dancing, poetry and mystic rituals, which showcase the most important parts of Senegalese culture. Luttes also display Senegal's community values since entire villages will come out to support their wrestlers! Even though wrestling is an individual sport, it's also a team effort!
