Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on Socio-Cultural Impacts of Ram Fight Viewing: Implications on Leisure and Tourism

Abstract

The use of Rams by their owners to engage in a contest called Ram fight has rapidly gained popularity amongst the south western people of Nigeria. Giving the pleasure of entertainment and leisure derived from this unofficial activity and its potential for a type of Animal-Based tourism, this paper studied the socio-demographic factors vis a vis the socio-cultural impacts of the Ram fight and its implications on leisure and tourism. Structured interviews using questionnaires were conducted within 3 areas of Lagos State, Nigeria and the findings indicate that respondents consider ram fight as a nascent tourist attraction in Lagos being a form of leisure that is captivating while majority of the correspondents also agreed that ram fight viewing served to foster religious harmony between Christians and Muslims in Lagos as well as positively engaging the youths who consider it as another form of entertainment. This work recommends that the potential of this leisure activity be unlocked and promoted as a tool for leisure practice and tourism development among locals.