Congo: Magic, Gangs & Wrestlers

Wrestlers are superstars in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this vast and troubled country, wrestling is a passion, allowing fans to forget the poverty, violence and ongoing civil war for the duration of a bout. Contests are televised and reported on the sports pages and attract thousands of fans. In the capital, Kinshasa, Unreported World reporter Seyi Rhodes and director Wael Dabbous find some of the superstars of the sport practising 'black magic', and uncover allegations that many fighters are involved in gang violence and political intimidation. Like other countries where wrestling is popular, there's a tradition in Congo of fighters wearing masks and customised costumes. But alongside the theatrics common to wrestling elsewhere, Congo's version has incorporated the belief in black magic, or fetishe, which is genuinely feared by many. The film begins with an amazing scene. Rhodes and Dabbous visit a wrestling match in Kinshasa to watch Congo's champion wrestler, Nanga Steve, taking on Super Angaluma, a fetishe wrestler famed for using black magic to defeat his opponents. The street bout is held in a ring surrounded by hundreds of spectators, many of them young men. To the crowd's delight Super Angaluma uses fetishe to try and defeat Nanga Steve, sacrificing a chicken to help him unlock supernatural powers. Despite this, in a classic denouement, good triumphs over evil and Nanga Steve is victorious. In this city of eight million people - the third largest in Africa - Steve and the other star wrestlers aren't just celebrities: they're figures of power and influence. Steve tells Rhodes that some wrestlers are major forces in gangs called 'Kuluna' that are terrorising the city. While some fighters like him are celebrities, others struggle to make a living, which he says explains the attraction of the gangs. The team also meets Armand Lingomo, a veteran wrestler who's watched as his sport has become entangled in criminality and Congo's violent politics. Rhodes and Dabbous investigate allegations that the government uses gangs of wrestlers and other combat sportsmen to crush opposition protests. A local cameraman shows them footage of sportsmen, including a champion wrestler, physically assaulting opposition MPs during a crucial debate. The team also meets one of the most famous Congolese wrestlers, called Zombi. At his large house he boasts of his riches and influence. Zombi takes Rhodes to his power base in an area known as 'The Kingdom of Zombi'. Here the team find a dedicated group of young followers - would-be wrestlers - who regard him as their 'master'. Zombi reveals this group is in fact 'Kuluna' but denies they are criminals. However, it's clear that he has a huge amount of control over them as he hands them cash. Critics from the political opposition allege this money comes from the government, keen to buy the gang's loyalty. Zombi denies this. As well as champion fighters, the gang has someone who further intimidates their rivals - a fetisheur. This sorcerer tells Rhodes 'I give them magical medicines so they can demonstrate their strength, cut off their opponent's head, drain their blood and pull out their intestines.' The team find the huge popularity of wrestling has spawned violent and dangerous gangs. But the sport also provides a way for millions of people to escape the violence and poverty of everyday life.