In 1982, native author Aminata Sow Fall wrote L’Appel des Arenes (The Call of the Arena) which unravels the competitive world of La Lutte – Senegalese folk wrestling. Traditionally performed by the Serer people in preparation for war, this sport is gaining popularity across West Africa and was recently featured in a new BBC Radio 4 series The Global Reach.
The novel was made into a film in 2005 (Written and directed by Cheikh Ndiaye, English title “Wrestling Grounds”), and tells the story of two young men from economically polar backgrounds, united by their love and fascination with the world of La Lutte and its long tradition of courage, heroism and mysticism.
If that whets your appetite, you could also seek out the 2008 BBC documentary Last Man Standing which covered the lives of a group of British and American hopefuls at a wrestling boot camp in Senegal taking on Senegalese opponents.
Maybe macho contact sports aren’t your thing? As a sisterly nod to International Woman’s Day, today’s recommendation also includes Senegalese author Mariama Ba. Her nippy 90-page novel So Long A Letter is packed with insights into Senegalese life, in particular the position of women in the changing world of West Africa. It deals with polygamy, feminism, Islam, marriage, friendship and village traditions. Check it out on Goodreads…
“a perceptive testimony to the plight of articulate women who live in social milieux dominated by attitudes and values that deny them their proper place. It is a sequence of reminiscences, some wistful, some bitter, recounted by a recently widowed Senegalese school teacher. The letter, addressed to an old friend, is a record of her emotional struggle for survival.”
More native reads by Senegalese authors:
The Belly of the Atlantic by Fatou Diome (2001)
For facts and figures about travel in Senegal try http://www.lonelyplanet.com/senegal and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14093674
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