The African Warriors Fighting Championship (AWFC), the leading global promoter of Dambe, has announced its first-ever King of Warriors event scheduled to take place on October 14, 2023, at Heritage Africa Village Square (Bear Hub) in Kado, Abuja.

The King of Warriors championship is taking place in partnership with Stake.com, the headline sponsor of the African Warriors Fighting Championship. Other partners are: Tix Africa, Bear Hub, Pulse Sports, Sports Assist, and SWA Sports.

According to the organisers, the event will be streamed live on Kick.com. The King of Warriors event will showcase eight thrilling fights featuring champions and promising prospects.

Featured athletes have been drawn from across the country and will be fighting to represent the three Dambe houses of Kudawa (Kudu), Arewa (Jamus), and Gurumada. The headline fight will pit Dambe champions Bahagon Yesanda and Shagon Agantsara against each other. Other matches on the night include: Coronavirus vs Dan Daba Auta, Bahagon Ali Kawoji vs Garkuwar Bahagon Yasanda, Autan Danbunza vs Dogon Baura, Dogon Messi vs Yar Mage, Dogon Gurumada vs Shagon Isah Kasa, Dan Ali Bata Isarka vs Bahagon Mai Bulala, and finally, Shagon Yellow vs Ilele.

In Dambe matches, athletes are permitted to strike with one hand which is wrapped tightly in a knotted cord and known as ‘the spear’. The other hand is used defensively and is known as ‘the shield’. Athletes can also kick with both legs. AWFC Dambe matches are contested over three rounds, and victory is secured by knocking out an opponent or causing his hand, knee, or back to touch the ground.

Dating back to hundreds of years, Dambe is a form of traditional boxing native to Northern Nigeria. The sport emerged as warriors trained for warfare before evolving into a pastime where young men competed to prove their bravery. In the modern day, Dambe has grown into a global sports sensation with AWFC content securing hundreds of millions of views from Dambe fans across the world.

Speaking on the upcoming event, Founder, The African Warriors Fighting Championship, Maxwell Kalu, said: “King of Warriors is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Dambe and a platform for African athletes to shine. The event will showcase how AWFC is working to elevate the sport of Dambe and take the sport to new audiences both at home and abroad.”

Chief Marketing Officer for Stake.com, Akhil Sarin, said: “We can’t wait for the first-ever King of Warriors event this weekend. Our aim for this partnership was to shine a light on Dambe, and we hope everyone tuning into the sport for the first time enjoys a fantastic spectacle.”