“Dembe”: A Traditional Boxing Sport Among the Hausa People of Nigeria during the Pre-colonial and Post-colonial Times

Abstract

This paper evaluates “Dembe” A traditional Boxing Sport among the Hausa people of Nigeria during the pre-colonial and post-colonial Times. Dembe is a martial art of the Hausa people from northern Nigeria where the goal is to subdue ones opponent by knocking them to the floor. This is a traditional sport with rich culture but has not been given the patronage and sponsorship it deserves. The paper primarily makes use of both primary and secondary sources of generating information. This is another
sport which if properly managed could generate a lot of revenue to both the boxers and the country at large. Unfortunately, it has not been properly managed. It has been observed that the teeming youths between the ages of 12 and 40 years in various pars of Northern Nigeria are without a trade, formal education and above all, can hardly communicate in English language. They are gathered and wait patiently to either watch or participate in Dembe. If this sport is developed and well managed, it would help to reduce cases of idleness, unemployment and cases of crime on the parts of the youths. This paper traces the origin of ‘Dembe’
processes involved, reward and a comparison with modern boxing. Findings from this study would throw more light on the challenges that this sport faces and bring out salient issues that policy makers or scholars can improve on to give the sport a wider coverage and recognition.