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In Dakar, thousands of young men train daily on beaches, football pitches and sandy courtyards in pursuit of athletic success. Aspiring football players seek contracts in the lucrative leagues of the Global North, while hopeful wrestlers aim to captivate massive crowds as members of Senegal's beloved national sport. Despite their differences – (European) football's global appeal versus wrestling's traditional roots – both sports demand immense effort and come with high social costs. Wrestling with Hope in Urban Senegal follows the journeys of these precarious athletes as they confront the realities of their aspirations, grappling with themes of masculinity, belief systems and economic survival whilst navigating the complexities of a neoliberal landscape.
“It was a joy to read. It offers an original and nuanced analysis of the interplay between global and local sport industries and their impact on the lives of young men in a neoliberal Global South context.” • James Esson, Queen Mary University
Mark Hann is an anthropologist and researcher whose work explores masculinity, sport and social transformation in West Africa. Alongside his academic research, he has held various roles in international peacebuilding organisations.
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Notes on Text
Introduction: Two Sports in Senegal
Chapter 1. Towards the Athlete Self: Neoliberal Subjectivity in the Sporting Arena
Chapter 2. Where Is the Strength? Shaping and Valuing Athletic Bodies in Urban Dakar
Chapter 3. Your Marabout Won’t Help: Magico-Religious Practice in Senegalese Sport
Chapter 4. Know Your Heritage: Wrestling with Ethnicity and Nationalism
Chapter 5. The Dream Is to Leave: Imagining Migration and Mobility through Sport
Appendix: Pape and Modou
Conclusion: Impossible Dreams
Epilogue
Glossary
References
Index