Indigenous fun rules in city
Since the weekend, Polokwane, the host city of the 10th annual Indigenous Games Festival 2015, has been transformed as colourful traditional attire to mark this historic event is being seen everywhere.
Moyahabo Mabeba
LIMPOPO – Since the weekend, Polokwane, the host city of the 10th annual Indigenous Games Festival 2015, has been transformed as colourful traditional attire to mark this historic event is being seen everywhere.
It is the first time that the games are hosted in Limpopo. This year’s theme is Our Indigenous Sport, Our Heritage: Towards the identification, promotion and preservation of South Africa’s very own sporting codes and heritage.
About 1 413 participants are showcasing their talents at the Peter Mokaba Stadium and the Polokwane Cricket Club.
The festival got off to a rousing start with a carnival street parade on Saturday that started at the Ngoako Ramathlodi Sports Complex in Seshego, along Nelson Mandela Drive where traffic was brought to a standstill. It ended at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The parade was a sight to behold and residents queued on the pavements and documented the carnival as participants from South Africa’s nine provinces exhibited their traditions with chants and ululations.
Violet Ramashala, who resides along Nelson Mandela Drive, was among those who got a glimpse of the street carnival parade.
She was so impressed that she took pictures of the colourful proceedings. She said at first, she thought it was one of those never-ending violent service delivery protests that have spiralled out of control all over the country and locally.
“We have never seen such a magnificent event in our neighbourhood.
“This is a historic moment, the memories of which must be preserved. From what I am seeing here, I am convinced that the games in Polokwane will be even more exciting than the parade.
“I am planning to take my children to go and witness the events as they unfold,” Ramashala added.
At the Peter Mokaba Stadium, all the provinces paraded their flags.
KwaZulu Natal (KZN) is the defending champion, having won the games in Pretoria last year.
Team KZN is lead by Sanilisiwe Mpungose, who read the Athletes’ Code out loud.
The participants will be competing in traditional sporting codes such as intonga, diketo, kgati, dibeke, morabaraba, jukskei, ncuva, kho kho, and drie stokkies.
Addressing participants, Sports and Recreation Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said: “As the department, we strive to encourage participation in these nine codes of indigenous games to enable the youth to begin to understand the value of belonging and cultural identity found in the origins of these games. These games are about ubuntu. The winners will be incentivised with prize money and medals.”
thoko@nmgroup.co.za
