Three wrestlers from the Savannah have been selected to represent the country in the All African Games 2024, a continental multi-sport event that will be hosted by Ghana from March 8 to 23, 2024.
The wrestlers, Dawuni, Jini and Shark, are part of the Shea Tree Traditional Wrestling initiative, a project that aims to revive and promote the ancient Gonja wrestling culture while also creating opportunities for the youth and fostering social cohesion in the region.
The initiative was launched in 2022 by the Shea Wrestlers of Ghana, a non-governmental organization that works to spearhead traditional wrestling across the five northern regions of Ghana. The project has received endorsement of the traditional authorities and the local communities.
According to the organizers, the initiative seeks to restore the degraded shea parklands in the region as well as to empower the young wrestlers with skills and resources to pursue their dreams and contribute to the development of their communities.
The wrestlers have since been camping with the Ghanaian team in Cape Coast, the capital of the Central Region, where they are undergoing intensive training and preparation for the All African Games. They will join seven other wrestlers from the Northern and Southern sector to form the national wrestling team.
The All African Games 2024 will feature 23 competitive sporting disciplines, including eight sports codes that will serve as qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Wrestling is one of the sports codes that will offer the chance for the athletes to secure a ticket to the Olympics.
The wrestlers from Gonjaland expressed their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to represent Ghana in the All African Games and possibly the Olympics. They also thanked the Shea Tree Traditional Wrestling initiative for nurturing their talents and giving them a platform to showcase their skills and culture.
"We are very happy and proud to be part of the Ghanaian team for the All African Games. It is a dream come true for us. We have been working hard and we are ready to face any opponent. We hope to make our country, our region and our people proud," Dawuni said.
Jini added: "We are grateful to the Shea Tree Traditional Wrestling initiative for supporting us and giving us this chance. They have taught us a lot, not only about wrestling, but also about life, leadership and community service. We want to use this opportunity to inspire other young people in our region to join the initiative and pursue their passions."
Shark also said: "We are honored to represent our culture and our heritage in the All African Games. Wrestling is part of our identity and our history as Gonjas. We want to show the world the beauty and the value of our traditional wrestling. We also want to show our respect and appreciation to our elders, our chiefs and our ancestors who have passed on this legacy to us."
The Shea Tree Traditional Wrestling initiative has been hailed as a model of cultural preservation, environmental conservation and youth empowerment by various stakeholders, including the government, the media and the civil society. The initiative has also been praised for its role in promoting peace and harmony among the diverse ethnic groups in the region.
The All African Games 2024 will be held in six venues in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast. The opening ceremony will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium on March 8, while the closing ceremony will be held at the same venue on March 23.
By: Mudasiru Afari Techi
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