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NewsTranscript
00:00 A little dance before the big moment.
00:04 And now it's time to focus.
00:06 The annual wrestling tournament in the northern city of Agadez is more than just a sporting
00:11 event.
00:12 The wrestlers finally face each other, carried by the beat of traditional sugulu music.
00:18 Now in its 44th year, the national cyber competition comes after a turbulent year for Niger, which
00:25 saw military officers cease power on July 26.
00:28 But for 10 days, those troubles are forgotten, as all eyes are on the skill and maneuvers
00:34 of the wrestlers.
00:35 "In Niger, traditional wrestling is the king sport, it's the most loved.
00:43 We inherit it from our ancestors, so it's normal that people cling to this traditional
00:47 sport, which unites Nigerians.
00:50 Thanks to wrestling, we all know each other, we build solid relationships, we form a family,
00:55 it's the cement of unity."
00:57 The winner falls to his knees.
01:02 After just eight minutes, his opponent's knee and elbow have touched the sand, handing Isaka
01:08 Isaka an historic win, his third consecutive title at the cyber, and the sixth of his career.
01:16 Once practiced by villagers to mark the end of the harvest, traditional wrestling seems
01:21 to resist the test of time, whatever the odds and political turmoil.
01:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]