Opening address by Sport and Recreation South Africa Minister M Stofile during 2007 Indigenous Games Festival, Eastern Cape

Very few people in the world associate the Marathon race with being an indigenous game of Greece. Even fewer people associate Taekwondo with being the indigenous game of Korea or Karate with China and football with England. But the truth of the matter is that all games have an indigenous home. The hegemony of different cultures and nations on the world has helped globalise some games to the extent that they are accepted as common to all rather than indigenous to any people.

The African continent is now acknowledged as the birthplace of humanity. The "Cradle of Mankind" is in South Africa. Yet all games indigenous to our continent are still unknown even within our respective countries. This is dangerous. It entrenches such stereotypes that make us look like savages with no civilisation and no cultural heritage.

Such stereotypes also reduce us to eternal second-rate athletes as we must always imitate other people and try to match them in their indigenous games. We are doing very well in this competition by imitation.

But we must also take something indigenous to us to the rest of the world. This is what this festival tries to achieve. It also strives to restore self-confidence and acceptance of the fact that being of Africa does not constitute inferiority. We must be proud of who we are.

I wish to welcome to these fourth Indigenous Games all participants and spectators from our nine provinces. A special welcome goes to the Minister responsible for Sport in North Korea, from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mr Mun Jae Dok and his delegation. I have no doubt that we will give them reason to come back again to our country, and share with us the uniquely South African experience of warm hearts and friendship.

Next year North Korea, will be hosting similar games. We have been invited and we are excited about it. I hope we will be able to send demonstration teams for one or two of our indigenous games. This way we will deepen the friendship and solidarity between our two great nations.

During the second Games in Oudtshoorn two years ago, we were challenged by members of the Khoi Community to include their games too. We agree with this. South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, so as many indigenous games as our communities must be given a chance to develop. This is a challenge to districts and provinces too.

Drie stokkies, jukskei, klei laat and others, must live side by side with iintonga, morabaraba, ungqaphu and other indigenous games.

Our congratulations and best wishes go to all who made these games a success. Our government, the sponsors and of course our people, Let us now sit back and enjoy ourselves. The fourth Indigenous Games Festival is opened.

Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa
31 August 2007