Metro district excels in indigenous games

The Western Cape Indigenous Games Festival held in Kuils River from September 24 to 26 was a showcase of talent and heritage.

The festival held at the Western Cape Sports School saw 700 participants from the Metro, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, Garden Route, Overberg and West Coast districts.

Metro district topped the medal tally with an impressive haul of eight gold medals, eight silver and five bronze.

The Garden Route followed closely with four gold medals, eight silver and five bronze.

Cape Winelands took the third place trophy as they added their mark with four gold medals, three silver and four bronze.

Games played included dibeke, diketo, drie stokkies, ncuva, puca, morabaraba, jukskei, iintonga, and kho- kho.

MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie said: “The Western Cape Indigenous Games Festival is bringing people together so that they can understand the games their ancestors played. Many of these games are about strategy, tactics, team-building and leadership. So, this festival is about winning and having fun, but also about preserving our cultural history to carry it forward for the next generation. Our forefathers played these games hundreds of years ago for social inclusion and getting together as communities. By continuing to host these games, we are preserving that culture, history, and heritage. "