THE MAN MOUNTAIN IMAGE SOURCE

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One would expect me to choose my favorite athlete in the categories of Ronaldo, Messi or someone plying his trade in Europe or America, since that is the general tandem. But no, my favorite athlete is not even an African American nor is some African living in Europe making cool cash, shanghaiing small tokens out of his or her lot back home occasionally. My favorite athlete is confined in the African continent. Limited as one can imagine the room for athletes to function within the framework of culture and tradition; it must be known that some athletes utilize it to the fullest. This way, they endear themselves to their immediate community, state and country.

One peculiar trait with we Africans is our ability to lean mostly towards our cultures and traditions. This is so because our elders and the societies we grew up in promote and preach about it more than any other human value. This may seem strange, considering the barbaric nature of some of the cultures and traditions, but Africans, especially those who grew up in a typical African setting do take considerable pride in it, and by no means shy away from showcasing it to the outside world.

Image source

Pardon me; I am not here to speak about tradition and culture, but to present to you my favorite athlete of the African traditional wrestling. He is none other than Yakya Diop otherwise known as ‘Yekini’. An African ‘Man-mountain’, king of wrestling, African champion, terror of the arena, master par excellence. He was nicknamed Yekini, meaning ‘WINNING SPIRIT AND STRENGHT’ in Yoruba language of western Nigeria and is compared to the speed and aggressive approach of the deceased Rashidi Yekini, who was a onetime famous Nigerian football star. My hero hailed from the people of Serer that are known to have produced numerous champions in the history of Senegalese wrestling. In fact Yekini was referred to in 2010 by the African media as the best wrestler ever in 50 years.

Serigne Ousmane Dia.(Bombardier). one of Yekini's victims. Image source

Although my favorite athlete retired from active wrestling by way of ‘throwing in the loincloth’ in 2016, I thought it imperative to present him to the sporting fans on this platform. Yekini like me was born in the mid 1970s, precisely on 28 feb, 1974 in Bassoul. He started playing professionally at the age of 22 in 1996 after partaking in numerous amateur wrestling at his hometown Saloum-delta of the Serer-Ndut region of Senegal which was also the training base for local wrestlers at the time. In his prime, Yekini measured about 1.95 mtrs and weights around 135 kg. So much for a village lad, whose mesmerizing bouts attracted city promoters that made it possible for him to graduate from a village amateur to a big-time-money star, grappling in sold-out stadiums in cities.

Yekini has the height to tower above opponents, the strength to hold down fighters, the wit to outsmart a wrestler, the patience to wait for the kill and the experience to dominate fights. His sheer brute strength is such that he grabs opponents by the hand and throws them over his shoulders to the ground like a log of wood with a smirking smile on his face. It was rumored that for want of entertainment of the fans, Yekini plays with his opponents for some time before picking them up for the slaughter whenever it pleases him.

There are very few if not non in the history of African traditional wrestlers who can boast of winning all important matches with opponents who’s reputations and fame transcends African region as Yekini. The warrior has floored popular and famous wrestlers, some who were physically more domineering. His victims are too numerous to mention, but prominent among them is senior fighter Mohamed Ndao (Tyson), younger fighter Balla Gaye, Bombardier among others.

Mohamed Ndao (Tyson) was beaten twice by Yekini. Image source

Yekini practiced and mastered Greco-Roman wrestling for the fun of it and has used that to his advantages in most bouts and also in formal competition which has lead him to win a silver medal in South Africa in the 1999 All African Games, and more than 7 gold medals in different competitions. To cap it all, Yekini was twice the best African champion in his category of 130 kg and above when he took part in the competitions.

I like Yekini because he is one wrestler who’s calm and style of play amazed me and millions of fans when he reigned supreme. His upper cuts were unequalled throughout his almost two decades as the king of the ring. One blow from him renders opponents laying flat on their backs and before one says Jack Robinson, the match is over. He was and still is an inspiration to the downtrodden in Senegal and other African countries as ‘a nobody, to a somebody’. A penniless youngster to a wealthy athlete whose entire career experienced little or no scandal. Yekini was ready to fight any opponent among the estimated 5000 wrestlers in Senegal, and heavyweights in other African countries without much hassle. This is in contrast to other wrestlers who will hedge and procrastinate in other to delay the judgment day as was his case with Mohamed Ndao in 2005.

The vanquishing of Tyson by Yekini. Image source

Since retiring from active wrestling, Yekini can be seen on the stands as a promoter and at times by the ring side offering professional advice to protegees. I wish him the best in his new role as a promoter, but should he have a rethink about coming out retirement since he is not yet 45 which is the retirement age for wrestlers in his category, that will not be a bad idea in the least.

There are lots of talented athletes in the category of Yekini in Africa, but globalization has greatly affected the growth, development and promotion of such local sports and athletes for the maximum desired effect. This of course is a topic on its own which i may write about in the future.

Young and upcoming wrestlers. Image source

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i am simply @izge. Thank you for stopping by.