The Struggle of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in an Age of Globalization: A Case for Children�s Traditional Games in S

Chapter Twelve: Swimming games

123 Chapter Twelve Swimming Games Swimming as it is played in Olympics is not a new game in Zimbabwe. During research for this book, I was told that traditionally the game was played in Zimbabwe as in many other parts of the world since timè immemorial. In southeastern Zimbabwe, swimming has many other sub-games. These include: C Chitsvambe/Chitsveru This game can be played inside water when children are swimming or outside water. When played in water entry, the game teaches water entry, floating, front and back crawl inside water. Whether played inside or outside water, the game also teaches dodging as well as vigilance since much alertness is needed to play the game. To play ‘Chitsvambe,’ a group of children have to decide who has the ‘chitsvambe’ or ‘chitsveru’. This can be done by counting. The one who shouts last automatically has the ‘chitsvambe’. S/he then starts chasing other children in an attempt to catch and touch one of them. The one who is touched is now the one with the ‘chitsvambe’ as ‘chitsvambe’ is passed on to the next participant by way of touching. Normally a child being chased by the participant with ‘chitsvambe’ tries to prevent herself/himself from getting the ‘chitsvambe’ by sitting down or touching an object agreed upon by the group. The object can be a tree or a rock. This can however be done after running a long distance. 124 H Heri Sadza Mutekwe (Here Is Sadza Mutekwe) This game is played in water where there is sand. The game teaches group formation, vigilance and dodging. It is played by both boys and girls grouped according to their sex. Group A will be that of boys while group B will be that of girls. The first group (A) start the game by putting sand in the hand and say ‘Heri sadza Mutekwe.’ When they say these words, the girls answer ‘Swedera’ indicating with their gestures that the boys can come closer. As they come closer the girls saying the same words ‘Heri sadza Mutekwe’, the girls make an attempt to touch the hands of the boys. Boys also make a similar attempt. If your hand is touched you automatically join the other group-an odd group as it is a group of opposite sex - and laughed at by your own group members where you formally belonged. The game continues until even more girls are caught/recruited to the odd group or vice-versa. The words that are continually shouted are: Boys: Heri sadza Mutekwe (Mutekwe here is stiff porridge) Girls: Swedera (Come closer) Boys: Heri sadza Mutekwe (Mutekwe here is stiff porridge) Girls: Swedera (Come closer) Boys: Heri sadza Mutekwe (Mutekwe here is stiff porridge) Girls: Swedera (Come closer) Boys: Heri sadza Mutekwe (Mutekwe here is stiff porridge) Girls: Swedera (Come closer) Boys: Heri sadza Mutekwe (Mutekwe here is stiff porridge) 125 Girls: Swedera (Come closer) Boys: Heri sadza Mutekwe (Mutekwe here is stiff porridge) Girls: Swedera (Come closer) Boys: Heri sadza Mutekwe (Mutekwe here is stiff porridge) Girls: Swedera (Come closer) The game ends when all members of one group are recruited into the odd group or when the children are now tired of playing the game. N Nhupe Yakabata Mwana Mukati/Chamunyurudu This is a swimming game played by children of either or both sexes together. The game teaches concentration, vigilance and group formation. To play the game, boys and girls form two groups (if to be played by both boys and girls together). One group comprising boys only stand on one side and that of girls on the other side. Boys sink themselves and swim towards the opposite group in an attempt to resurface at so and so of the group. The objective is to catch any member of the opposite group. Girls are therefore required to remain vigilant observing water movements so that they are not caught unaware. Those caught are laughed at as they would belong to the odd group. Sometimes boys would re-surface just in the midst of the girls only to disappear once again into the water. 126 ...