At the heart of the African sporting universe, a persistent and fascinating phenomenon intrigues as much as it divides: superstition. Often mocked, easily derided, this belief in mystical and supernatural forces nevertheless occupies a preponderant place in the lives of athletes on the continent. Whether it is spells, voodoo rituals for disenchantment, specific prayers or lucky amulets, the list of superstitious practices is long and varied.
Paradoxically, while many African athletes rely on these ancestral customs to find strength and protection in their sporting practice, there is a surprising absence of sports psychologists on the continent. Shamans, marabouts and other healers far outnumber sports psychology professionals in Africa, thus leaving athletes to their own beliefs and superstitious practices.
A striking example of this duality between superstition and sporting professionalism in Africa is that of Nigeria, which made history by becoming the first African team to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games, in Atlanta in 1996. This resounding success aroused admiration and pride, while allowing a glimpse of the multiple facets that make up the world of sport in Africa.
To better understand this complex relationship between superstition and sporting performance, I had the privilege of speaking with Narcisse Tinkeu Nguimgou, physical trainer of the Cameroonian national football teams and mental coach of the Cameroonian national volleyball and MMA teams. His experience and expertise offer new insight into how superstition practices are integrated into the mental preparation of athletes and can potentially influence their performance.
In a completely different register, “Fatshimetrie” also explores the exceptional destiny of an emblematic figure of African sport: Hassiba Boulmerka. Legend of Olympism and Algerian sport, her inspiring journey raises questions about the role of women in African sport and the need to highlight their exploits and their challenges.
At the same time, the detailed and documented analysis of Paul Dietschy, professor of Contemporary History at the University of Franche-Comté and associated researcher at the Sciences Po History Center, highlights the historical impact of major sporting events such as Nigeria’s victory in the Olympic football tournament in 1996. His work contributes to a better understanding of the socio-cultural and political issues emerging through the prism of sport in Africa.
With “Fatshimetrie”, immerse yourself in the heart of a fascinating universe where superstition rubs shoulders with sporting performance, where exceptional destinies are woven in the shadow of ancestral practices, and where history merges with sporting exploits. A captivating immersion that questions, moves and inspires, to better understand the richness and complexity of sport in Africa.