Soldiers of the Northern Nigeria Regiment wrestling, 1901 (c)

Photograph, West Africa, 1901 (c).

Wrestling was an important pre-colonial sport in many parts of Africa, including Nigeria. When the British colonised Nigeria they realised that such sports helped improve recruits' physical fitness, team work and espirit de corps.

From an album of 145 photographs associated with the Nigeria Regiment and West Africa, 1901-1902.