How a Kenyan trains women boxing against femicide

DW (English)

Meet Fatuma Zarika, the Kenyan boxing world champion who trains young women and teaches them how to stay healthy and protect themselves at the same time. In the process, she gives femicide a real knockout.

Transcript

00:00Does boxing help against femicide?

00:04We asked Zarika Fatuma, Kenya's Iron Fist,

00:08how and why she brings boxing to young women from disadvantaged communities.

00:13Growing up in the ghetto

00:17is what has made me to be a champion and get the belts that I have for now.

00:22It is also what has made me to start Zarika Fitness Center

00:26to train ladies on how to defend themselves

00:29so that they don't go through a hard time that many women are experiencing now.

00:34According to alarming statistics,

00:36between 2016 and 2024,

00:39more than 500 women were victims of femicide in Nairobi alone.

00:44Reason enough for Zarika Fatuma to do something about it.

00:48And for the boxer with a proven track record,

00:51there was no question about what she wanted to do

00:54about this life-threatening violence against women.

00:57I witnessed men harassing women and I didn't like it.

01:03When you look currently in Kenya,

01:05ladies are being targeted.

01:07They are being murdered.

01:09I think this has also motivated me to train ladies

01:12so that they learn how to defend themselves.

01:16But in which ways does boxing exactly help navigate life's challenges?

01:20I really like boxing.

01:22It can help you a lot because I can defend myself,

01:26for example, if someone wants to rape me.

01:29I thank Zarika because since she came to us,

01:33we have learned a lot and she wants to train us to become a champion.

01:37I think it is a great opportunity for us to learn how to defend ourselves.

01:42And she wants to train us to become a champion like her.

01:50Nicknamed the Iron Fist because of her quick wit,

01:53the Nairobian was raised by her single mother.

01:57I'm the current champion for WBF.

01:59I, as Fatuma Zarika,

02:01I have been a World Boxing Council champion two times.

02:05I have 50 fights, 17 knockouts.

02:08I'm proud to be a champion.

02:13Fatuma!

02:15But what made her decide to pursue a career in a sport

02:19traditionally dominated by men?

02:21People used to ask me,

02:24why have you joined boxing, a sport for men?

02:27It is a rough game.

02:29For me, I believe there is no particular job for a man or a woman.

02:35When I joined boxing, I used to watch Laila Ali,

02:39the female boxer and daughter of Muhammad Ali.

02:42She inspired me a lot to try boxing.

02:52Balancing my life as a parent and as a boxer are two different things,

02:57but I usually create time to be with my family.

03:09Zarika prepares for her boxing matches in a sponsored gym

03:13and also her own gym.

03:15And this is where she trains girls and women in self-defense courses.

03:19What's so special about it?

03:21Are you ready for training?

03:24It's true, I empower ladies through boxing.

03:27It's important for them to know how to defend themselves

03:31when danger arises.

03:33When I'm training them,

03:36I show them how to throw a jab

03:38that can allow them to escape in case of danger.

03:44By learning boxing,

03:46it's not a must to use a boxing ring.

03:49Boxing can help you anywhere.

03:51In a session where I have beginners,

03:54I train them techniques such as throwing punches,

03:57moving, waving, among others.

03:59It's not just about boxing,

04:01but the impact Zarika's training can have.

04:04The lady we just visited before,

04:06when she came to speak to me back then,

04:15I felt she has a lot of potential

04:17to be great and become a champion in the boxing industry.

04:21We also have Tabi here in my gym.

04:24She is really now throwing some heavy punches.

04:27She will be a good boxer soon.

04:29I train with Zarika.

04:32She has exposed me to a field

04:34that I didn't know really existed.

04:36Boxing can contribute on gender equality

04:40and reducing gender-based violence

04:42because boxing gives you the skills.

04:45And you don't have to say that

04:47you can just abuse me because I'm a girl

04:49and I don't know how to fight.

04:51No, the field is open.

04:53Through Zarika, the field is open for everyone.

04:55In sport, Zarika hasn't ended every match with a knockout,

04:59but when it comes to violence against women in particular,

05:02the iron fist speaks her mind.

05:05Knock out the femicide.

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