Senegalese breakers compete in Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games; first Olympic event in Africa

“Africa has a real talent pool in breaking", a sport that is hugely popular among young people

The youngest Olympic sport, breaking is rapidly gaining popularity across the continent, particularly among younger generations. The discipline will feature on the official competition programme at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Born in the United States in the 1970s as part of the hip-hop movement, breaking, formerly known as breakdance, is an acrobatic dance sport in which athletes go head-to-head, combining intricate moves, acrobatic skills and creativity.

At just 13 years old, B-Boy Jule, whose real name is Souleymane Sylla, has been practising breaking for three years. Despite his young age, he is already considered one of Senegal’s rising talents in the sport.“ I’m still very young, but I’m already quite proud of my journey. When I enter a battle, I know that all my opponents have more experience than me. But that also gives me more experience .”

The young Senegalese breaker has his sights set on the Youth Olympic Games, which will take place in Dakar, Saly and Diamniadio from 31 October to 13 November.“ I’m really happy to know that breaking will be part of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Especially because they will be held in Dakar and this is the first time an Olympic event is being organised in Africa. For me, it’s extraordinary. When I started three years ago, I never expected this.”

“ When we first heard about the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, we thought it was perfect timing. It gives us greater visibility, ” says Dakar-based coach Mouhamed Xavier Goudaiby, better known as B-Boy Zaza. A member of the Dakar Power Crew, African champion in 2018 and silver medallist at the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, he has a clear ambition: “Our biggest challenge today is to develop champions here in Senegal in breaking.”

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In recent years, breaking has experienced a meteoric rise in Senegal. “ Dance was not taken very seriously in Senegal. But I knew there were many young people in Dakar who loved breaking. We focused heavily on developing the sport so that young people who cannot afford to attend schools abroad or access training programmes could still have opportunities, ” B-Boy Zaza explains.

The sport’s success in Senegal reflects a wider trend across Africa, with more and more young people taking up breaking in countries including Rwanda, Togo, Benin and Angola.

“ Breaking is very popular among young people in our country, ” says Angolan B-Girl Change. She believes that “Senegal is very fortunate to be hosting the Youth Olympic Games. They should make their opponents feel that they are on home soil” during the competition.

Beyond its growing popularity across the continent, breaking is also the youngest Olympic sport. It made its official Youth Olympic Games debut at Buenos Aires 2018 before joining the Olympic programme at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At Dakar 2026, the breaking competition will take place in Dakar over two days, on 12 and 13 November.

The sport’s development has also been welcomed by the International Committee of the Jeux de la Francophonie. “We can see that there is a real talent pool for breaking in Africa. The development of the discipline is really only just beginning on the continent, ” said Mariama Signaté, Sports Programme Specialist at the International Committee of the Jeux de la Francophonie.

A breaking competition is also scheduled for the next edition of the Jeux de la Francophonie, which will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2027.

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