House of Arewa wins emir of Kano Dambe Championship

After two days of intense competition, House of Arewa have emerged champions of the inaugural Emir Ado Bayero Dambe Championship Cup held at Dorayi Palace in Kano.

The championship, organised by the African Warriors Fighting Championship (AWFC), the leading promoter of Dambe boxing, was part of events to celebrate the Legacy of Traditions, a yearlong festival showcasing Kano Culture with the Kano Emirate Council.

At the event, 16 athletes from Dambe houses of Arewa, Kudawa, and Gurumada competed in eight bouts with House of Arewa coming out victorious.

House of Arewa won six out of eight bouts to secure the Emir’s Cup, which was presented to them by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

The traditional wrestling event attracted over 5000 fans, while many streamed it live via AWFC, ARTV, and Legacy of Traditions social media pages.

Speaking at the event, Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, said: “The Emir’s Cup is a celebration of our cultural roots. As the cultural custodian of Kano, I have long been a supporter of Dambe, and I would like to see the sport continue to reach new heights. We are proud to support the African Warriors Fighting Championship and the Legacy of Traditions in promoting our customs globally.”

Also speaking on the championship, founder of African Warriors Fighting Championship, Maxwell Kalu, said the championship celebrates African tradition.

“The Emir’s Cup was a huge spectacle highlighting the unifying power of sport as people from across Kano rallied to support their favourite fighters and houses.