Mpumalanga provincial indigenous games held
The games were held at the WH de Klerk Special School on Saturday, August 8.
Recently provincial indigenous games in preparation for the National Indigenous Games Festival started in earnest with the hosting of a provincial tournament held here in eMalahleni.
Two players in a rope jumping game called ugqaphu or kgati a game played by using a skipping rope long enough for several players to jump over, either one by one or simultaneously. In the absence of a rope, stockings or strips of cloth are tied together for rope-jumping.
The games were held at the WH de Klerk Special School on Saturday, August 8.
According to the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, the provincial Indigenous Games Festival was aimed at selecting players who will represent the province in September.
Two players competing in diketo, a coordination game between two players using small stones and a ghoen or a taw – a big round stone for each player.
“The Provincial Indigenous Games is one of many steps the department takes annually to grow the activity. It starts with local and regional games, which are held to select players to represent Mpumalanga at the national games,” says Culture, Sport and Recreation spokesperson, Sibongile Nkosi.
The National Indigenous Games will be held in Polokwane, Limpopo from September 19 till 24.
Players in one of the provincial indigenous games held at the WH de Klerk Special School on Saturday, August 8.
“The province will use the tournament to select players for the national tournament,” added Nkosi.
Indigenous Games are aimed at promoting cultural activities that have a particular appeal to vast sectors of the South African community, young and old, black and white. It goes without saying that they are more than a recreational sport as they play a pivotal role in promoting national unity and social cohesion.
Players touching each other in a game called ugqaphu or kgati. This is played by using a skipping rope long enough for several players to jump over, either one by one or simultaneously.
The Indigenous Games codes are: diketo (coordination game), dibeke (running game), khokho (running game), morabaraba (board game), incuva (board game), jukskei (target game), kgati (rope-jumping), intonga (stick fighting) and driestokkies. The province excels in khokho, kgati, jukskei and morabaraba.
The games were held at the WH de Klerk Special School on Saturday, August 8.
