Wovia village crowned champions of Zone B wrestling
BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
Wovia village are the winners this year’s 2026 traditional wrestling Zone B final defeating Mokunda village for the first time, while Mokunda village
secured the second position with Bobende village occupying the third position while Ngeme village came fourth.
The finals of this year Zone B Traditional Wrestling took place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Mokunda community field dubbed “My Culture, my identity”.
The event that brought together four villages namely; Wovia, Mokundange, Ngeme, and Bobende was marked not only by fierce competition but also by a strong emphasis on promoting peace, unity, and cultural preservation within the community.
The Zonal President, Paul Kalle, welcomed all attendees and participants, emphasising the true purpose of traditional wrestling.
He stated that the aim of the competition was not to create tension, hostility, or division among the villagers. Instead, it was a cultural platform to foster peace, togetherness and preserve cultural heritage.
Paul Kalle congratulated all the villages that participated, especially those that made it to the grand final, Kalle urged wrestlers to maintain the values of fairness and sportsmanship.
He reminded them that traditional wrestling is intended to uphold tradition and foster harmony rather than to determine perfection or superiority.
The grand finale saw active participation from both young and older wrestlers, including children aged 10 years and above, competing in both junior and senior categories for males and females.
HRM Edward Motande of Mokundange, who was present to witness the event, highlighted the cultural significance of traditional wrestling.
“Traditional wrestling is one of the duties of chiefs, and it plays a vital role in preserving our heritage,” he said.
He called on neighboring chiefs to join hands deck to make next year’s grand final to be written in history
HRM Edward Motande acknowledged the criticisms often associated with traditional wrestling but urged everyone to focus on progress and collaboration. “It’s time for us to put aside minor errors and work together towards a common goal,” he advised.
On his part, the Chief of Bobende village, HRH Chief Ndive Woka Ngale I said the the intention of participating in the wrestling competition is to uphold the values of their culture as it was handed to them as of old so as to preserve it for the future generation.
The Chief of Wovia village, Dikanjo expressed joy for grabbing the trophy from Mokunda village for the first time. He emphasized that they will continue to uphold the culture of the Bakweri man. He encouraged other villages to join the competition next edition.
In recognition of their efforts and success, all participants received medals, and each competing village was awarded a trophy, to encourage the spirit of healthy competition and cultural pride.
The event not only celebrated the resilience and richness of local customs but also served as a reminder of the importance of unity, peace, and cultural identity in community development.
