Indigenous Games.

Indigenous Games are an important tool in the preservation of the culture of a people. Through the songs and processes, stories are told, lessons are taught and there is joy and harmony among the children. Unfortunately, these games are becoming extinct. Sysy House of Fame is reviving and professionalizing these games, thereby building on the massive potential they possess, through Research and Development, training and tournaments. We are Making Stars of Our Own.

Remember when, many years ago,  probably in your early teens, you would play games that were unlike like the games you watch on TV today, – jumping ropes, hand joggling stones, dodging softballs aimed at you? I bet you do – because it is an unforgettable experience of bonding with friends, exchanging cultural pleasantries, and growing old together with the people that matter. But I can also bet that that’s all you remember – a faint memory of the intricacies and dynamics of these traditional sports now looms. This may not be your fault. These games are gradually being extinct – which means we are losing a great chance of living our culture, bonding over what matters and growing old with the people that mean the most to us.  I can understand if the memory is blurry. I remember shooting the ball at someone while they avoid being shot at. That’s all. And I am here thinking, is that all that made it fun – because I am still having a moment of my life with the memories from P.S Meluf during the short breaks. 

I remember connecting with my friends on Facebook and the first thing we remember wasn’t anyone being the smartest or the cleanest, neither was it any of the subjects we sat in class together and studied but the games we played during the short break. They were the reason we would want to come to school the next day and not the Math or Geography. Don’t get me wrong – studying these subjects was important and great but the motivation to come to a fun environment was also very important. 

We also played other sports. I remember struggling with handball. I was part of the school team but to be honest, I wasn’t very skilled. I was just about 9 years old, a very little-skinned girl, intelligent, and could walk long distances but can’t say I was athletic. Then there was football, an amazing game I love till date but cliched to men then – 1999. These 2 mainstream games needed experience, skills, and fitting in a particular gender ( Handball for the girls, football for the boys) – It was a taboo to cross-play. 

Fast forward to 2022, and I am now a mother and my daughter who will soon be 5 hasn’t been involved in any traditional games, her bestie and big cousin Tina at 8 neither.