Traditional wrestling competitions conclude in Burkina Faso and Niger

The inaugural Coupe du Faso de lutte traditionnelle concluded in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 24, 2026. Bako Boureima, representing the Mouhoun region, and Edith Kibone, from Nayala, each won the first prize of one million FCFA in the men’s and women’s categories respectively. The event featured 22 athletes and focused on the theme of promoting traditional wrestling to affirm national identity.

In Niger, regional qualifiers for the Kokowa 2026 National Sabre concluded in Malbaza, Tahoua region, on October 23, 2026. The competition, presided over by Governor Colonel-Major Souleymane Amadou Moussa, selected 22 wrestlers to represent the Tahoua region at the 47th edition of the National Sabre championship in Zinder this December. The event brought together 100 wrestlers from ten departments to promote social cohesion through traditional sport.