WRESTLERS OF THE CONGO - PART 1Photos and Text by Benedicte Curzen
In the Congo, wrestling is just as popular as it is in America. The main difference between wrestling in the US and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is that the Congolese like to introduce a mystical, magical “voodoo” element to the pantomime. So as well as huge goons wearing spandex and diving off ten-foot-high stages, there’s also the inclusion of “magical traditions” which involve magic powders, spells and zombie-like transformations of wrestlers.
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| Pictured here: Makasi Tskiwa, 46, well-known as Big Papa T, started wrestling 10 years ago. These days he lives in England but visited Kinshasa, in the Congo, for the first time in a few years in August last year. Here he’s in the Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa. Big Papa T originally left the DRC because his life was threatened by Mobutu. Now he has his own wrestling club in Haringey, London, and studies criminology at university. |
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| Bougie Rouge (left) gets ready to defend the colours of Brazzaville, while his magic assistant, Little Buddha, dances for the final match of a five-day wrestling tournament opposing wrestlers from the Mbonge stadium in Brazzaville. |
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| Siboli from Kinshasa celebrates victory surrounded by Congolese supporters from Kinshasa after a match at the Mbonge stadium. |
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TO BE CONTINUED:
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See all articles by this contributor Anonymous, on Nov 11, 2009 wrote:
Big papa t the legend been in this wrestling since 1989 in the one of famous club in Kinshasa/DRC Call MONAMA TRAIN by Coach Mukendi and his best Friend and brother to him also as his mentor SELEMANI MODJA who are the Tree of Wrestling and the every wrestlers in DRC Coach and Tshikeva big papa t European Champion started sport since 1963 from his dad General Tshikeva who taught him JUDO,SELF then Karate through Master Prince Makunku and discovered by Selemani who made him one of the best wrestler in the planet.With army boxing sought he been army mi ring champion for 4 years in Kota Koli Commando Center and in charge of Kota Koli Sport/Art Martiaux and he’s now 3rd dan in Karate from SHIHAN Karl Dyer 6th Dan. | | Anonymous, on Nov 11, 2009 wrote:
Big papa t the legend been in this wrestling since 1989 in the one of famous club in Kinshasa/DRC Call MONAMA TRAIN by Coach Mukendi and his best Friend and brother to him also as his mentor SELEMANI MODJA who are the Tree of Wrestling and the every wrestlers in DRC Coach and Tshikeva big papa t European Champion started sport since 1963 from his dad General Tshikeva who taught him JUDO,SELF then Karate through Master Prince Makunku and discovered by Selemani who made him one of the best wrestler in the planet.With army boxing sought he been army mi ring champion for 4 years in Kota Koli Commando Center and in charge of Kota Koli Sport/Art Martiaux and he’s now 3rd dan in Karate from SHIHAN Karl Dyer 6th Dan. | | Anonymous, on Oct 24, 2009 wrote:
now big papa t train with the congolese wrestlers who live in uk for their campaign of to bring wrestling back in uk/world. they are introducing the voodo style wrestling to be the next wrestling to watch on tv and they are looking for sponsor any one interested could e-mail him at bigpapat1@hotmail.co.uk also they are preparing the like of rambo in the jungle version of wrestling fight in the Dem. Rep. of Congo. The training camp is based at high road tottenham opposite the police at the tottenham chances pub. every sundays prof wrestling voodo style for more information email: mamu12tatu@yahoo.co.uk
first UK Vodoo wrestling in December 20 this year from 3pm in tottenham east London | | Anonymous, on Sep 13, 2009 wrote:
now big papa t train with the congolese wrestlers who live in uk for their campaign of to bring wrestling back in uk/world. they are introducing the voodo style wrestling to be the next wrestling to watch on tv and they are looking for sponsor any one interested could e-mail him at bigpapat1@hotmail.co.uk also they are preparing the like of rambo in the jungle version of wrestling fight in the Dem. Rep. of Congo. The training camp is based at high road tottenham opposite the police at the tottenham chances pub. every sundays prof wrestling voodo style. | | Anonymous, on Sep 13, 2009 wrote:
now big papa t train with the congolese wrestlers who live in uk for their campaign of to bring wrestling back in uk/world. they are introducing the voodo style wrestling to be the next wrestling to watch on tv and they are looking for sponsor any one interested could e-mail him at bigpapat1@hotmail.co.uk alaso they are preparing the like of rambo in the jungle version of wrestling fight in the Dem. Rep. of Congo. The training camp is based at high road tottenham opposite the police at the tottenham chances pub. every sundays prof wrestling voodo style. | | Anonymous, on Mar 29, 2009 wrote:
I know Makasi Tshikeva that is his really names it spell wrong and he his the European Wrestling Champion 1996 and former World UWA Wrestling Champion 1999 and rated as the 10th best in the World and the 2nd Badest in the world after Rowdy Peper 1999 Wrestling Magazine Result also he ran a Wrestling Club and train Prof and Amateur and Sumo/Grappling Wrestling he his a legend in UK as he fought in National TV here LIVE TV for a year and done a Movie/documentary call Rampage of Wrestling who stated how he brought back Wrestling in UK after Mick Mc Manus and Big Dady Time and Mick Mc Manus rated him as a Wrestler who could bring wrestling back in UK if he fought with his mask on and he said he his the best wrestler in the world if they give him chance Independent News Papers 1999 now he his a teacher at the Mainstream school and teach French,PE AND Cover Maths. | | |
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