RAM fighting as a sport is gaining momentum, thanks to the massive human interest it has generated in recent years.
As the rams lock horns, the gallery is charged with supporters shouting, cheering or galvanising the beasts in the contest.
Winner or vanquished, the blood flows, the beasts do not lie low, they give the contest all they have in the kitty. These are not rams for Eid meals – they are battling beasts. They are not your typical domestic animals, they are wild but they know what they are doing.
In Nigeria, Ram fighting is gaining popularity, mainly among the locals. Although it is often categorised as an act of animal cruelty, yet findings say the contests rarely result in the death of a defeated ram, as the loser is often allowed to quit the stage anytime it feels it can no longer cope.It lives to fight another day.
In some countries in Asia, Europe and some Arab countries, efforts are ongoing to bring ram fighting into limelight by regulating the rules, to ensure the fairness and welfare of the fighting rams.
In Nigeria, fighter-rams have made large investments as they are reared solely for competitions in which there are prizes as grand as automobiles for winners.
Earlier in the year, Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria (TSFN), informed that ram fighting will feature at the 19th National Sports Festival originally slated for Calabar, Cross River State, later this year. The games may now be held in Abuja.
The annual competition has been holding since it was introduced in 1997.
Last Sunday, Tribunesport was at the playground of Baptist Secondary School, Liberty-Road, Ibadan, venue of a friendly bout organised by the Rams Lovers Association of Nigeria (RLAN), Oyo State chapter, among rams from some states in the south western part of the country.
Acting Secretary of RLAN in Oyo State, Gbadamosi Adekola, said: “Initially, ram lovers were seen as nonentities, but we thank God today that the sport has gained recognition and has been enlisted to be part of the forthcoming National Sports Festival. I am very optimistic that one day, ram fighting will be included in the Olympics”
Aside the entertainment and the competitive aspects of ram fighting, it is also a means of generating revenue. For instance, the owner of a ram with the strength of a bull may decide to sell his ram for as much as N500,000 and as low as N200,000 though he might have bought the ram for just N50,000.
Ram fighting is also an avenue for stakers to make money, because, aside the owners who have placed a certain amount of money on their rams as a form of betting, other participants who are the spectators do stake their money on the sidelines of the battle field.
As witnessed by Tribunesport, stakers placed as much as N10,000 and as low as N500 on rams.
The atmosphere, as charged as it is, gives no room for hooliganism. Winning rams and their team jubilate heartedly while the losers hope for a better day.
Some bouts ended up in stalemate, while some rams even refused to engage each other in a fight in the first instance. Just like boxing, the rams undergo the weigh-in process as fighters are measured on kilogramme basis. A pint-sized ram, however confident his mentors are, may not be allowed to fight a bigger one for the fear of inflicting injury.
The rams have nicknames such as Akube, 50-50, Lemon Plus, Oju Musu, Show, Baby, Orente, Dudu and all other sorts.
A ram owner, Afeez Isiaka, does not see ram fighting as an abuse of the animals; rather, to him, it is a healthy venture. Isiaka said: “Ram fighting enhances the well-being of rams. It is a form of exercise for them, just like humans engaging in any form of physical activity. Also, the sport has encouraged many people to go into rearing of rams either for the fun of it or to generate revenue. I have been into this ram fighting business for some time now and I am enjoying every bit of it”.
Ola Kokonso, who brought his rams all the way from Lagos said that: “As far as I am concerned, ram fighting is a form of entertainment which can not be quantified in any way. The reason I came to Ibadan with my rams is for them to participate and give them exposure. Exposure in the sense that if I keep them at home, no one will know their ability when it comes to fighting. It is when people see them fight that they will approach me for business, whether they want to buy them or stake their money on them during competitions. I brought two rams nicknamed Orente (30kg) and Dudu (30kg)”.
Olatokunbo Samisudeen, a ram owner from Osogbo, believes ram fighting is for a combination of business interest and personal satisfaction.
“I strongly believe that some people engage in ram fighting to derive satisfaction, I mean they just enjoy watching those rams fight and they can go to any length by investing their money. On the other hand, some people do it strictly for business purposes.
Sekewa Olayinka from Ijebu-Ode, said. “If staking is taken away from the game, I am very sure it will die a sudden death because majority of the stakeholders are betters. I believe ram fighting should be encouraged the more. Aside football, ram fighting is another sport which normally brings large number of people together.”
Spectators at the Baptist Secondary School playground, Ibadan, on Sunday paid N500 to gain entry into the arena.
RLAN Acting Secretary, Adekola said: ‘‘If it were to be a regular competition, the gate fee is usually N300, but in a bid to check the excesses of touts who may storm the venue, we put the gate fee at N500, even at that, you can still see that people are here in their large numbers”.
Fans came to the arena in their posh cars which were parked inside the venue and on both sides of the road. Law enforcement agents were on hand to ensure free flow of traffic during and after the event.
A spectator, Daud Adesoji said ‘‘Without mincing words, I enjoyed ram fighting. I came all the way from Akobo to be part of today’s showdown. I have this feeling that with the way things are going, ram fighting will be as popular as the game of football and will be acceptable and followed keenly by Nigerians.”
Food vendors, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks sellers also made sales while the event lasted.
One of the food vendors, Mrs Folashade Aniyikaye, said: “Ram fighting competition is an avenue for me to make money because people will buy more from me. I do make a lot of sales on a day like this, And my wish everyday is that there should be more of ram fighting c,” she noted.
Discussion about this post