MUSANGWE'S FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION - SAB MEDIA SPORTS AWARDS

The December holidays are usually a time of festivities. But, for the people of rural Venda, this time of the year is spent battling in a bare-knuckle fist-fighting tournament called Musangwe. Legend has it that beating your opponent to a pulp can make you popular amongst the women. Musangwe is steeped in the history of rural Limpopo with the first event dating back to the 1800s. It’s believed back then, kings and chieftains introduced the combat game as a form of recruiting warriors who would represent the villages in war. Despite its undiminished popularity, those who are in charge of Musangwe today are yearning for this form of fight club to be recognised as an official sport.