The Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will host the 2009 indigenous games as follows:
Date: 22 August 2009
Time: 10h00
Venue: Zastron sport centre (Zastron)
Indigenous Games provides a window for the expression and showcasing of African values and talent. Although there is cultural diversity in Africa, African people do share some general values and have faced some similar struggles in life. Despite the fact that global influences have had a marked effect on the identity of African culture efforts are continuously being made to guard against the erosion and adaptation of African heritage as exhibited by indigenous games. The games were neglected in historical and anthropological accounts of the indigenous people of South Africa.
Participation in indigenous games emphasises physical development, skill training and maintenance, reinforcement of the community's values and interaction between communities. The challenge is to trace and bring this rich indigenous heritage to life for everybody to share and actively join in games like Iintonga, Morabaraba, Jukskei, Dibeke, Ncuva, Khokho, Diketo, Kgati and Drie Stokkies.
Through the indigenous games programme the department strives to achieve the following:
* popularise the games
* promote active and healthy lifestyles
* discourage unwanted social behaviour by keeping the youth engaged in the games
* campaign for the recognition of the games as part of international festivals and sporting events.
The rebirth of indigenous games in 2005 was launched in the Free State at Basotho cultural village by the then Minister of Sport, Mr Ngconde Balfour.
Free State took part in the 2007 Indigenous Games festival held in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape. Participation at the 2007 festival was in eight indigenous games codes and the winners per code.
Overall, the Free State obtained five points translating into position seven.
In September 2008 the Free State diketo team, constituted part of the national team that took part in the International Indigenous Games festival in Korea that is held every four years.
The provincial event to be held in Zastron sets out to further take the Indigenous Games to higher levels of celebration. A provincial team will be selected at this event to represent the Free State at the National Indigenous Games Festival in Durban from 24 to 27 September 2009.
Media enquiries:
Tankiso Zola
Tel: 051 410 4742/4786/4819
Cell: 082 940 2392
E-mail: tankiso@sac.fs.gov.za
General enquiries:
Joy Ntsasa
Tel: 051 407 3511
E-mail: joy@sac.fs.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Free State Provincial Government
18 August 2009
