Committed to providing an environment that allows students to have a vibrant student life through sporting and recreational activities, the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) launched its indigenous games at the Mbombela campus in July.
The games featured a few codes that allow students to compete in teams or individually, at provincial and national level.
The traditional indigenous activities and games have been modernised. Over time, the games have become an expression of local people, culture and social reality. These acts were largely ignored in historical and anthropological studies of South Africa’s indigenous people. The challenge was to resurrect and disseminate this rich indigenous history so that everyone could participate in traditional games.
Sport and Recreation South Africa strives to conserve and promote this rich history for future generations through indigenous games.
The UMP Student Division has collaborated with the Department of Sport and Recreation to bring indigenous games to the university, with the assistance of Zwelakhe Masilela of the UMP’s School of Social Sciences.
ALSO READ: Msogwaba beauty pageant gives back to schoolchildren
“We have the support from the Department of Sports and Recreation, which has assisted us with co-ordinators of each sporting code. The games are now played by rules that have been approved by the Department of Sports,” said Masilela.
“The indigenous games have countless benefits, which include assisting students to forge careers in certain codes, including co-ordinators and managers. These will open countless opportunities for students. After the launch, the participants of dibeke and diketo competed at the indigenous games’ regional competition at the KaMagugu Stadium. The participants had so much fun and also taught students how the games are being played, since they are interested in being part of the initiative but do not know how to play.”
ALSO READ: MP Sports Awards nominations extended
UMP participated in the Ehlanzeni Indigenous Games Competition Day after the launch. Five students were selected to represent the Ehlanzeni District at the provincial games that will be held in Middelburg.
