Ram-tastic

GSBot · April 28, 2010, 11:30am

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733409_nigeria_rams09.jpgThe 13th All-Nigeria Ram-Fighting Championships in Lagos consists of six weeks of horn-to-horn battles between the country’s angriest sheep.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733412_4525619432_fd9c4d6cd5.jpgRam-fighting has its origins in the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan). Boys would sneak off with the ram intended for the feast and lay bets on whose beast was the strongest.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733413_nigeria_rams07.jpgAnimal rights activists oppose ram-fighting, but its supporters say the animals are just expressing their natural instinct to compete with other males for mates.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733415_nigeria_rams04.jpgFighting rams weigh 20-140kg (44-309lbs) and compete in 40-round bouts across eight weight divisions.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733416_nigeria_rams03.jpgDedicated ram-owner Segun (in white) says he takes 109kg Oba (king) into the stands to study his rivals’ form and technique.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733419_nigeria_rams05.jpgA diet of soybeans, maize, yam peelings and greens ensures a ram has great strength and stamina.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733420_4522666053_b339f5374e.jpgGoodluck, named after Nigeria’s new acting president, was raised in the desert scrub of Niger and brought some 1,000km(620 miles) from Sokoto by his owner to contest.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47733000/jpg/_47733421_nigeria_rams12.jpgA panoply of prizes awaits the winners, with the overall champion pocketing 300,000 niara ($2,000; £1,300). [Photos by Olly Owen]

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