EC looks to shine at Indigenous Games

Team Eastern Cape looks to win big at the 13th National Indigenous Games starting on Monday in Seshego in Polokwane.

The team arrived in Limpopo on Sunday, and provincial Art and Culture department spokesperson Andile Nduna said the 123 participants representing the Eastern Cape were ready to participate in the fiveday tournament which will see the champions crowned on Friday.

The provincial team is set to compete in all nine codes – Dibeke, Diketo, Driestokkies, Iintonga, Jukskei (development and elite), Kgati, Khokho, Morabaraba, and Ncuva.

“The Games were launched for the first time in the Free State in September 2003 as a celebration of South Africa’s rich cultural heritage and diversity, and the need to foster reconciliation and nation building, as well as cultural tolerance,” said Nduna.

He said the Indigenous Games were inextricably linked to the traditions of a cultural group, being of a local origin and requiring physical skill, strategy.

“Culture is not static. Indigenous people continually added to their own cultural, material and physical heritage. Reliving and reinventing the games of their forefathers and foremothers, adding and creating their own games along the way, became a part of daily living.

“Like other sport and recreation codes, Indigenous Games impact on a number of socioeconomic issues such as African identity; cultural diversity; education and training; accessibility of resources; international relations; economic growth and so forth,” said Nduna.

The department’s communications officer, Jerry Ndudula, who is with the provincial team in Polokwane, said the objectives of Indigenous Games was to get more South Africans active in traditional games.

Indigenous people continually added to their own cultural, material and physical heritage