South African fitness coach Nkululeko Dlamini, famously known as the “King of Squats,” was forced to skip a planned fitness event in Burkina Faso.
This was after Ouagadougou City Council banned the show.
The event organisers had scheduled the Mega Show Fitness event for Saturday, 8 November, at the BCEAO Recreation Centre in Ouaga 2000.
Burkina Faso bans fitness event featuring the ‘King of Squats’
Despite the expected headline appearance of the King of Squats, Ouagadougou City Council issued a directive cancelling the event.
According to allbuzzAfrica, the council blamed the organisers, KOSSO Cross Fit.
The council said orgernisers did not obtain the required administrative authorisation to host the event.
Togo Scoop reports that President of the city’s Special Delegation Maurice Konaté signed an official note against the event.
As a result, authorities instructed the organisers to comply with the city’s regulations. This fully enforced the banning of the event.
Fans left frustrated
The decision disappointed hundreds of local fitness enthusiasts who had been eagerly awaiting the King of Squats’ first appearance in Burkina Faso.
The King of Squats, known for his high-energy training sessions and viral workout videos, had been in the country for several days promoting the event.
The cancellation disappointed hundreds of fitness fans who had been anticipating Dlamini’s debut in Burkina Faso.
The event cancellation sparks online reactions
Online, the cancellation sparked a heated debate. Some citizens questioned whether a foreign-led fitness show aligned with Burkina Faso’s current social and political priorities.
Others defended the initiative and insisted that people were judging it unfairly.
One of the most thoughtful reactions came from Paré Adama, a Burkinabè sports coach and supporter of the Progressive Popular Revolution.
Writing on social media, he urged fellow citizens to stay objective and avoid moral panic around the event.
“The coach is neither a moral threat nor a danger to our society,” Adama wrote. “Let’s be consistent, progressive and rational. What deserves discussion is safety, organisation, community impact, or consistency with our values, not personal perceptions.”
Adama added that sports disciplines have their own technical and clothing standards, and that judging the event based on “visual impressions” misses the point of athletic performance.
The ban reflects Burkina Faso’s tightened administrative oversight of public gatherings, especially those involving international guests.
