TEAM NORTH WEST DOES IT AGAIN AT NATIONAL INDIGENOUS GAMES
By Thato Motau and Edith Mogapi
Team North West at the 2022 National Indigenous Games. Pic : Thato Motau
Team North West bagged five medals at the 16th National Indigenous games festival held in Margate, Kwazulu Natal, from September 24-28.
The games brought together all nine provinces for a week of sports and celebration of South Africa’s National Heritage.
An additional feather in the cap for the North West is that four players from the province’s Team Khokho have been selected to represent South Africa at the Kho-kho World Championships to be held this month in India.
They are Linda Masina, Tebogo Mocumi, Galaletsang Tabaekae and Boitshoko Matebele from Dr Kenneth Kaunda district. They were all part of the conquering male and female teams at the Games.
Young and old indigenous games fanatics got the opportunity to learn and play historical games during the annual festival, which promotes social cohesion and preserves heritage.
Participants competed in nine indigenous sporting codes which included dibeke, kgati, ncuva, drie stokies, morabaraba, khokho, juskie, intonga and diketo.
The North West wins were in Dibeke and Khokho males participants (both Golds), Khokho females and Intonga females (both Silvers) and a Kgati (bronze).
The national indigenous games were celebrated under the theme “Celebrating the Legacy of Solomon Linda and South Africa’s Indigenous Music”.
The provincial participants were supported by the Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation (Acsr).
According to the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation (ACSR), the initiative was a platform for the country’s diverse citizens to reflect on the games’ rich history and their influence in shaping the daily and future interaction of culture.
Acsr uses the games to preserve heritage, promote social cohesion, cultural diversity and nation-building.
Shuping Sebolecwe, spokesperson for ACSR, said the games impact positively on socio-economic issues such as African identity, cultural diversity, education and training.
“The games encourage a healthy lifestyle and discourage unwanted social behaviour by keeping the youth engaged,” said Sebolecwe. “The Department has been hosting these games for many years to highlight the importance of culture.
“It is also part of the national strategy to optimise South Africa’s rich cultural heritage and values by instilling a sense of pride in also celebrating our differences as a nation.”
The week-long festival commenced with a carnival celebration and an opening celebration, followed by four days of competition amongst provinces.
Despite of the challenges of load shedding and unfavourable weather conditions for certain codes, participants soldiered on.
One of the Dibeke participants, Kamogelo Molotsi, from Ikageng in Potchefstroom said: “Team North West Dibeke won gold against Free State after 12 years. Last year we got position three.
“We are happy and excited that our hard work and team work paid off. It has not been an easy game due to exhaustion and the rainy weather. The indigenous games teaches us about our culture and tradition. They help us to interact with people from different cultures. We both can learn from each other. We are really proud of ourselves.”
In her closing remarks, Deputy Minister for Sports, Arts and Culture Mme Nocawe Noncedo Mafu said: “We are grateful to have hosted such a successful National Indigenous Games. It has been an incredible week of festival of rivalry, competition was very tight. We have noted a lot of preparedness from all the provinces and they were all at the same level.
“I am happy that this year I see a lot of young people. Thank you for making these games a success. Appreciation goes to all MEC’s, HoD’s, officials for the support given to the 16th National games.
Next year, the Games will again be held in KwaZulu-Natal.
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