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

Chapter Six: Games That Teach Endurance, determination and Increase Physical Fitness

65 Chapter Six Games That Increase Endurance, determination and Physical Fitness Physical fitness in the Shona traditional culture is greatly valued especially among men. This is because a man who is not strong and enduring is considered unfit for many of the manual activities in and outside home. The importance of physical fitness is also emphasized through proverbial expressions such as ‘Kufa kwemurume kubuda ura’ (A man’s defeat only comes with his death), ‘Wokwa murume ndewe kwamurume’ (A man is a man). These two sayings mean that a man unlike a woman is always expected to be strong and enduring. To be strong and enduring require physical fitness, hence the reason why physical fitness is encouraged and valued or cherished in the Shona traditional culture. In south-eastern Zimbabwe, I observed that while fighting is greatly discouraged, physical fitness is still a cherished value. Children, especially boys are encouraged to be physically fit through different games that promote muscle development and physical fitness in general. From the way and the reasons most of the children’s traditional games are they are played for in southeastern Zimbabwe, I considered the following games as those played to increase physical fitness of the young: Zinyekenyeke (Which Is the Weakest Point?) This game teaches concentration, vigilance, effort through various parts of the body and response to different 66 stimuli. The game is played by children of either or both sexes together. To play ‘Zinyekenyeke’ (Which is the weakest point?), children stand on the ground in a big circle joining their hands to form a barrier. Depending on the number of the participants, one or more participants are chosen to enter inside the circle. Those in the ring walk about looking for means to escape out (of the ring) or possibly looking for weaker points through which they can push their way out. If the children manage to push out, they have won and another member or group enters the ring. As those inside the ring move about looking for weaker points where they can escape outside the ring, they sing: Leader(s): Apa! (Here!) Chorus: Pakasungwa neutare (It’s strong) L: Apa! (Here!) C: Pakasungwa neutare (It’s strong) L: Apa! (Here!) C: Zinyekenyeke (It’s weak) L: Apa! (Here!) C: Zinyekenyeke (It’s weak) L: Apa! (Here!) C: Zinyekenyeke (It’s weak) L: Apa! (Here!) C: Zinyekenyeke (It’s weak) L: Apa! (Here!) C: Zinyekenyeke (It’s weak) It should be noted that those at the points at which those inside the ring escaped outside would be laughed at. In most cases, these are the ones who would be chosen to enter inside the ring and restart the game. 67 M Mukuru Ndiani Jongwe (Cock Fight) This game teaches balancing, perseverance, courage as well as transferring weight from one body part to another. The game is normally played by young boys, and girls rarely play it. Like the game called ‘ngunzi’, this game is a pushing contest between two participants. To play ‘Mukuru ndiani Jongwe’ (Cock fight), a big circle (ring) is drawn on the ground surface. Two participants enter inside the ring with their hands folded (at their chests) and standing on one leg. They begin pushing each other with shoulders interlocked while standing on one leg. A point is lost if a participant drops the other leg in attempt to gain balance or if one is pushed back beyond an agreed land mark, that is, out of the ring. As the game progresses, audiences and participants sing: Leader: Mukuru ndiani? (Who is superior?) Chorus: Jongwe Jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) 68 L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) L: Mukuru ndiani (Who is superior?) C: Jongwe jongwe mukuru (Cock is superior) N Ngunzi/Mombe-mombe (Bull Fighting) This game is normally played by young boys in the pastures as they will...