The Rhythm of Strength — Join the Celebration at Boreh Festival 

Experience Gambia’s living cultural heartbeat at the Boreh Wrestling & Drumming Festival. This vibrant rural event brings together wrestlers from across the region to compete under traditional rules, accompanied by rhythmic drumming, singing, and dancing. Rooted in Mandinka pagan and youth initiation ceremonies, the festival is a spectacle of strength, community, and spiritual celebration.

The festival, or events featuring this wrestling style, are held in various locations across the country, often in Bantaba (meeting places) or at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.  

Why attend the Boreh Wrestling Festival?

• Witness riveting traditional wrestling passed down for centuries

• Feel the pulse of live drumming and energetic local dances

• Engage directly with villagers in a timeless, communal event

• Learn about young men’s rites of passage and cultural identity

• Capture unforgettable cultural moments and authentic human connection

Immerse yourself in the rhythms and rituals of Borreh—where sport, spirit, and celebration unite to reveal the beating heart of Gambian culture.