Cheers rise from the crowd; the more than one hundred inmate boys scream with loud voices. The wrestler representing cell 4 has just thrown his opponent on the back. I’m in the boys’ prison in Dakar where we organize a Christmas program with the international church. The boys are incarcerated because of theft, drug trafficking or murder. They live here with 25 boys per cell in very basic conditions. The relaxed atmosphere and joy almost makes one forget there was a big prison revolt just a few weeks back…
Traditional wrestling is the most popular sport in Senegal, even more popular than soccer. The prison director proposed to welcome us with a match at the start of our Christmas program. The pre-match rituals show how deeply Islam is intertwined with animistic traditions. It is important to appease the spirits and both wrestlers try to persuade them to fight on their side. Protection spells and curses are pronounced, and small notes with religious texts stick to the body. Special dances are performed and water or milk that is blessed by the religious leader is thrown over the wrestlers.
It’s the second time I organize a Christmas program in three prisons in Dakar with the International Church of Dakar. Together with our mission partner Ndeye, a Wolof Christian woman who fights for the rights of prisoners in Senegal. We take time to talk with the prisoners and listen to their stories, we organize a Christmas dinner, give gifts, do something active like football or wrestling, and we share the Christmas message. Thanks to the contacts of Ndeye in these prisons we are received with open arms.
To my surprise, the boys listen intently to my short Christmas story. A story about Christmas and wrestling. About the struggle of life that we all go through. About love, rejection, jealousy and anger. Feelings that are familiar to all of us. A struggle which especially takes places in our inner being: in our hearts, in our soul. The story of a God who does not let us struggle by our selves. Who does not leave us in misery. About a God who comes to us. About a child that is born. About the hope that is in Jesus Christ.
I had never seen like this before; but Christmas and wrestling actually have a lot in common!
