Dambe takes us into the visceral world of Taye, a champion fighter competing in one of Nigeria’s most intense traditional combat sports.

I was immediately drawn to the raw physicality of Dambe. The combination of ritual, strength and spectacle - fighters surrounded by a crowd, one arm bound tightly in rope, waiting for the moment a single strike can bring their opponent to the ground.

But amongst all that noise and aggression, I wanted to keep coming back to Taye himself: the focus before a fight, the confidence it takes to step into that space, and the character of someone who has earned the status of champion within his community.

Click for the full 8 minute documentary feature on Nowness.