Goulmou: Thirteen traditional wrestlers will represent the Goulmou region at the 2026 National Culture Week (SNC) in Bobo-Dioulasso. They were selected Friday following a competition held in Fada N’Gourma.
According to Burkina Information Agency, a total of 51 wrestlers were registered across all categories. Forty-five of them, including 24 men and 21 women, both adults and youth, actually took part in the bouts. The competition, supervised by international referee Pare Faustin, was held in two divisions (adults and youth), each subdivided into four weight categories ranging from 56 kg to over 77 kg.
Opening the event, the governor of the Goulmou region, Ram Joseph Kafando, praised the commitment of the participants and their supervisors. He noted that participation itself is a source of satisfaction and encouraged those who were not selected to remain motivated. He wished success to those who qualified for the SNC 2026.
Ignace Badiel, a gendarme and wrestling enthusiast, shared his experience, highlighting that perseverance is key. He mentioned his participation in regional and national competitions since 2008 and recalled the team’s fourth-place finish in the national collective championship last year.
The technical director of the Burkinabe wrestling federation and president of the jury, Auguste Zinzere, remarked on the competitiveness in the youth categories, noting the quality of fights among both girls and boys.
Experienced wrestler Diapa Bila expressed his ambitions, having secured several second places in past competitions, including at the SNC. He aspires to win first place in the future.
With this selection, the Goulmou region aims to showcase its expertise and wrestling tradition during the SNC 2026.