Indigenous Games Team Western Cape Awarded Provincial Colours by Minister Marais | Western Cape Government

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Indigenous Games Team Western Cape Awarded Provincial Colours by Minister Marais

21 September 2015

On Friday, 18 September 2015, Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais awarded provincial colours to team Western Cape who will compete at the National Indigenous Games Festival in Tshwane from 21–24 September.

Indigenous Games are linked to the traditions of a cultural group, are of local origin, and require physical skill, strategy and/or chance.  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 mothers, and creating their own games along the way, has become a part of daily living.

Despite Africa’s rich history of Indigenous Games, a number of them have become extinct without having been documented in historical accounts of the indigenous people of Africa.

That is why Indigenous Games are now included as part of the priority sporting codes in the country. These games are formalized in nine different sporting codes and the Western Cape is one of the provinces competing at the national festival.

Minister Marais officially sent off the 140 participants to compete in all nine codes which include:

  • Dibeke
  • Diketo
  • Drie Stokkies
  • Iintonga
  • Jukskei
  • Kgati
  • Kho – kho
  • Morabaraba
  • Ncuva

In her address, Minister Marais said “Our history need not be lost as older generations pass on. Team Western Cape have been selected from amongst the best indigenous games players in the province. It is now their duty to keep these games alive in our communities so that future generations can celebrate our heritage.  By excelling in these games, these players will revive and popularise our unique heritage”. Minister Marais wished the team well and encouraged them to bring home the gold. 

Media Enquiries: 

Stacy McLean
Spokesperson for Anroux Marais, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 4426
Cell: 083 504 1171
Email: Stacy.McLean@westerncape.gov.za