Indigenous games in South Africa: Connecting cultures, building skills, shaping childhoods

In South Africa, children are deeply engaged in the colourful traditions and exciting games unique to their culture. They participate in a variety of indigenous games, such as the rhythmic dance Diketo and the strategic game Morabaraba. These games not only bring joy and friendship, but they also help children develop important skills and keep their cultural heritage alive. Martha Radebe reports.

In a lively field bustling with school learners, two boys dressed in matching blue shorts and white vests swing a skipping rope effortlessly. Three girls wearing blue dresses, vests, and long white socks jump together in perfect harmony, their dresses swaying and billowing with each jump. 

Another boy eagerly joins the group, seamlessly blending in. They are playing Ntimo, a popular game of skipping rope, one of many seen on school playgrounds across South Africa. 

Local communities have treasured traditional games for many years. These games reflect their culture, history, and traditions, and offer a unique avenue to express these cultural values and transmit indigenous knowledge, according to a post on the tourism blog Tour2.0.

These games offer a diverse range of experiences for children. Intonga, a stick-fighting game, challenges players to showcase their physical prowess while enhancing coordination, discipline, and focus. Dibeke is a skipping-rope game that promotes fitness, coordination, and rhythm through energetic and synchronised movements. Kho-kho, a team-based tag game, requires speed, agility, and teamwork, fostering improved fitness, thinking skills, and communication, Tour2.0 says. 

Ntimo offers a two-player skipping experience, benefiting participants’ fitness, coordination, and rhythm. Diketo involves throwing stones into holes, cultivating accuracy, coordination, and counting skills. Jukskei tests aiming, accuracy, and concentration as players knock down pins with sticks. Lastly, Morabaraba, a strategic board game similar to chess, enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and patience. Each game offers unique benefits while preserving traditional elements of enjoyment and skill.

Integrating games in schools

Although school children often play indigenous games, they usually do so informally on the playground.  Efforts are being made to formally introduce and promote the inclusion of indigenous games in South African schools,  Thabo Motlhabi wrote in an article on the news website South Africa: The Good News. These efforts are supported by local cultural organisations and community leaders who play a crucial role in providing resources, training, and guidance to educators. They ensure that the games are taught and integrated effectively into the curriculum.

A recent event organised by the Provincial Department of Sport, Art, and Culture showcased the significance of indigenous games. Approximately 120 learners from schools in the West Rand area, Gauteng gathered at the Munsenville sports complex on a Saturday in July 2023 to participate in traditional indigenous games, Motlhabi wrote.

The objective of the event was to promote participation in African traditional sports among learners. “The event wanted to temporarily set aside the learners’ identities and origins, directing their attention towards the preservation and practice of their cultural traditions,” he wrote.

Yongama Ndabebi, the coordinator for the Indigenous Games Federation, told Motlhabi, “We realise that in most cases it’s the generation before them that is familiar with this sport, so we want them to continue to keep the activities alive in the interests of tradition.” 

In some schools in South Africa, the subject of Life Orientation provides a platform for the inclusion of indigenous games. In a National Curriculum Statement, the Department of Education mentioned that Life Orientation is the subject that enables and encourages learners to participate in extra-curricular activities. 

Babongile Mkhize, a Life Orientation teacher at Ohlange Secondary School in Kwazulu-Natal, explained that during the Physical Education (PE) class, learners actively participate in team-building activities and cooperative games. “These activities, such as Kho-kho, Dibeke, and Soccer, are an integral part of their holistic development and cultural education,” she said.

Playing helps children develop

The role of indigenous games in learners’ lives goes beyond physical activity and encompasses their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

According to Ankebé Kruger, a professor in counselling psychology at the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus, these games instil values such as happiness, freedom, friendship, democracy, responsibility, obedience, and mutual help, which are essential for healthy adult life.

In addition to fostering positive values, participating in traditional games can also have a significant impact on learners’ behaviour and emotional state. 

Kruger emphasises that indigenous games can help reduce negative feelings, prevent behavioural problems, and mitigate acts of violence among learners. “Moreover, indigenous games offer cognitive benefits as well. These games require strategic thinking, quick decision-making, and problem-solving, enhancing children’s cognitive abilities,” she said.

Jan Botha, a fourth-year education student at the NWU, mentioned that indigenous games enhanced his problem-solving skills. He explained, “Growing up, I used to play Morabaraba with my friends, which required a lot of concentration and strategic thinking. It forced us to come up with solutions on the spot.”

Narisscia Lloyd, founder of MOVE Kinderkinetics in Cape Town, explained that indigenous games teach learners to anticipate actions, adapt to changing situations, and develop spatial awareness, ultimately positively impacting their academic performance and overall cognitive development.

Zakiyyah Haffejee, a third-year pharmacy student at the NWU, reflects on how playing indigenous games has shaped her mind, enhanced her social skills and taught her the value of teamwork. She explained, “Through engaging in Kho-kho, I have gained a deep understanding of the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and the timing and speed required among the players. These skills have proven to be invaluable in both my personal and academic journey.”

Engaging in familiar activities like indigenous games also helps children form and strengthen their identity.

Yenzeka Xulu, a second-year psychology student at the NWU, said that when she took part in indigenous games, they helped her feel like she was at one with her culture and connected to her heritage.

Lloyd said, “Furthermore, relaxation games aid in stress reduction and creative movement, while outdoor play encourages creativity, self-expression, and an appreciation for the environment, contributing to mental and emotional well-being.”

Looking at the group playing the skipping rope game, what Lloyd said is evident. And long after the game is over, the sound of the children’s joyful laughter still lingers in the air.