The famous promoter of Senegalese wrestling, Gaston Mbengue, died this Thursday, May 1 at the age of 73 in Dakar. He had revolutionized Senegalese wrestling with prestigious fights which raised this traditional sport to the rank of a great popular spectacle and established the star of its best practitioners.
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“ The arena forever loses its Don King “, ” Forever the greatest promoter “, The arena loses its king “, etc. Around fifteen Senegalese daily newspapers published a headline call on the death of Gaston Mbengue this Thursday morning, May 2. This illustrates the place occupied by the wrestling promoter on the Senegalese sports scene. From his real first name Salif, Gaston Mbengue will leave an image of a charismatic businessman who enabled the transformation and development of Senegalese wrestling into a large industry that supports thousands of people.
A ready-to-wear seller in his early days, Gaston Mbengue organized his first wrestling matches in his hometown Louga to finance the football club of his heart, Ndiambour. He would later become its president, but it was truly on the sand of the wrestling arenas, and not on the football pitches, that his legend would be written.
“ The death of promoter Gaston Mbengue is a big loss for Senegalese wrestlingtestifies Abdoulaye Dembélé, journalist specializing in Senegalese wrestling and founder of the site demactu.com. Since 1991, he has been in this environment and has greatly contributed to the development of this sport. No wrestling promoter has lasted as long in this traditional sport in Senegal. He organized the fights of wrestlers from several generations combined. It will be difficult to replace. »
Fees worth more than 100 million…
During his 30-year career as a promoter, Gaston Mbengue staged major fights between the great champions of Senegalese wrestling: Manga 2, Tyson, Tapha Guèye, Yekini, Gris Bordeaux, Balla Gaye 2, etc. He will have succeeded in selling Senegalese wrestling as a great spectacle, pushing major sponsors like Orange to invest in the arena and allowing wrestlers to sign for fees regularly exceeding 100 million CFA (150,000 euros).
His ability to organize and make his fights an “American-style” show earned him the nickname “Don King” after the famous American boxing promoter.
Having been ill for several years, he made his last public outing in June 2023 by testifying about his state of health in a TV show devoted to wrestling. “ I went five months without being able to walk and I even thought I was going to die. I was in a coma and some even announced my death. In Paris, I had an operation and the doctors didn’t have much hope. President Macky Sall and his wife even came to visit me at my home », Confided Gaston Mbengue.
His funeral is scheduled for Thursday, May 2 in Dakar. His Gaston Productions label managed by his son Makan Mbengue should continue to perpetuate his legacy.
I bow to the memory of my friend Gaston Mbengue, a true sporting entrepreneur who contributed greatly to the development of our national sport.
I send my sad condolences to his family whom he loved so much and to the world of Wrestling. May Allah welcome him to Paradise. pic.twitter.com/INJ4iSYkCk
— Aminata TOURE (@aminatatoureklk) May 2, 2024