New Italian Podcast Explores Senegal's Traditional Wrestling Culture

A new six-episode podcast titled 'DK LAAMB' delves into the cultural and spiritual significance of traditional Senegalese wrestling, known as Laamb. Produced by Hypercast and Hyperjazz, the series launched on November 3 and is hosted by Raffaele Costantino, a DJ and host of Rai Radio 2's 'Musical Box'. The project originated from Costantino's artistic residency at the Italian Cultural Institute in Dakar. The podcast examines Laamb as a cornerstone of Senegalese identity, blending sport, ritual, and spirituality. It features interviews with champions, trainers, and emerging talents, and explores the evolution of the practice into a violent show business, with major matches uploaded to YouTube. The series also highlights Senegal's hip-hop scene, which fuses Afro-American roots with traditional sounds and Wolof lyrics. A collaboration between Costantino and Khalab, a prominent figure in the Afro-futurist scene, resulted in the EP 'DK LAAMB'. The podcast was co-created with journalist and author Megan Iacobini De Fazio, who traveled across Senegal recording sounds and voices.