Dangerous Traditional boxing from northern Nigeria is fast, brutal, and has few rules. The men who dedicate their lives to it are wanderers, itinerant labourers in search of fame, or the sons of boxers - born into the ring. "Dembe", as it is called in Hausa, is exceedingly dangerous. Serious injury, and even death, are a real risk.
Poised to strikeCompetitors crouch down in a ready stance, extending their free, unwrapped hand out as far as their opponent will allow. The idea is to test your reach, and tempt your opponent to make a move, and maybe leave himself open. The boxers can stare at each other in this pose for what seems like minutes before striking.
Hammer blow
The tension is broken when the first punch is unleashed.
The attacker swings his fist in an arc over his head while throwing himself forward.
Dembe fighting is done to the sound of "talking drums", which gets the boxers’ adrenalin going.
Knock him down
A flurry of devastating blows follow as the boxers push each other around the ring.
The winner is the one that knocks his opponent to the ground.
He only has to do it once in three rounds, but if boxers are well matched the bouts may go on for an hour or more, according to Dembe enthusiast Kunle Tajudeen.
Sand and blood
Before the bout starts, the boxer will wet the flax cord wrapped around his hand and cover it in sand to maximise the pain he can inflict.
Wrapped inside his fist are small animal skin packets containing bird feathers or other charms the boxer believes protect him.
The scars on his forearm are where he has cut himself and rubbed in special medicines.
Defeat
In this bout Mohammed loses to Shagon Dantagaye.
This ends an epic rivalry that has seen every fight between them over two years end in stalemate.
After the match Mohammed looks close to tears, but then reconciles himself to defeat.
“We have fought over 50 times, one day I will beat him, if God wills it,” he said.
Victor
Winner Shagon collects about $100 prize money, a TV set, and the pride of being a champion.
Boxers travel all the way up to Chad, Niger and into Cameroon for fights.
Their fame is certainly more than their fortune.
Hammer blowThe tension is broken when the first punch is unleashed.
The attacker swings his fist in an arc over his head while throwing himself forward.
Dembe fighting is done to the sound of "talking drums", which gets the boxers’ adrenalin going.
Knock him down
A flurry of devastating blows follow as the boxers push each other around the ring.
The winner is the one that knocks his opponent to the ground.
He only has to do it once in three rounds, but if boxers are well matched the bouts may go on for an hour or more, according to Dembe enthusiast Kunle Tajudeen.
Sand and blood
Before the bout starts, the boxer will wet the flax cord wrapped around his hand and cover it in sand to maximise the pain he can inflict.
Wrapped inside his fist are small animal skin packets containing bird feathers or other charms the boxer believes protect him.
The scars on his forearm are where he has cut himself and rubbed in special medicines.
DefeatIn this bout Mohammed loses to Shagon Dantagaye.
This ends an epic rivalry that has seen every fight between them over two years end in stalemate.
After the match Mohammed looks close to tears, but then reconciles himself to defeat.
“We have fought over 50 times, one day I will beat him, if God wills it,” he said.
VictorWinner Shagon collects about $100 prize money, a TV set, and the pride of being a champion.
Boxers travel all the way up to Chad, Niger and into Cameroon for fights.
Their fame is certainly more than their fortune.
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