By Michael Uugwanga
The Namibia Traditional Sports and Games will be part of the seventh annual Nama Cultural Festival set for Keetmanshoop from 28 May to 31 May.
The Namibia Traditional Sports and Games Federation received recognition from the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), with the aim of reviving traditional sports in the country.
The traditional games that will be showcased include Owela (traditional chess), Ndota (throwing marbles or stones in the air and collecting as many marbles or stones from a hole), defence board games, slingshot (catapult commonly used by children to shoot birds), and traditional relay games (Uma), which involve jumping over a rope.
Speaking to Confidente, Namibia Traditional Sports and Games Federation national coordinator, Joolokeni Hamunghete, said the main aim
of the games is to revive games that have lost their identity over the years.
“Our main objective at the festival is to promote, preserve, and showcase Namibia’s indigenous traditional sports and cultural heritage. We believe that traditional games are an important part of our identity, history, and education, especially for the younger generation,” said Hamunghete said.
“During the festival, we will be introducing and demonstrating a variety of traditional games, such as Owela, Ndota, defence board games, slingshot (catapult), traditional relay games, and indigenous recreational games from different Namibian communities,” he added.
“We will also use this opportunity to educate the public about the importance of traditional sports in promoting unity, teamwork, discipline, physical fitness, and cultural appreciation among communities and schools.”
The Nama Cultural Festival has over the last six years, served as an important platform to celebrate, preserve, and promote the rich heritage, traditions, and values of the Nama people while fostering unity, cultural exchange, and community development.
“The Nama Cultural Festival this year is very important and meaningful because it creates a platform for different cultures to come together, celebrate heritage, and strengthen unity among Namibians. It is encouraging to see traditional leadership, communities, and organizations working together to preserve our cultural identity for future generations.”
According to Hamunghete: “As a Federation, we are honoured to be part of this important cultural event, and we believe the festival will contribute greatly to cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and community development.”
