Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, PhD, Executive Director of Sierra Leone’s National Sports Authority (NSA), along with his team, met with Abdulrahman Lamin, head of UNESCO’s southern regional office in Harare, Zimbabwe, to advocate for support for traditional games and sports. This initiative aims to promote African traditional games and attract potential sponsors.
During their courtesy visit on Saturday, Abdulai highlighted Sierra Leone’s role as host to the Africa Secretariat of Traditional Games and Sports, positioning the country as a leader in this field. He announced that Zimbabwe had won the bid to host the 2028 African Traditional Games and that the delegation was in Zimbabwe to finalize agreements and support the establishment of frameworks for successful execution.
Abdulai emphasized that traditional games and sports align with UNESCO’s mission to preserve cultural heritage and promote youth engagement in sports. He urged Lamin to support the Zimbabwe Commission on Traditional Games and Sports, underlining the cultural significance of these games for formerly colonized peoples. “Many traditional games from my childhood have been overshadowed by foreign sports. It is crucial to internationalize African games,” he stated.
Chief Michael Mustapha, President of the African Traditional Games and Sports Federation, detailed the framework for codifying traditional games, which has received support from UNESCO. He noted that an initial meeting to advance traditional games was held in Turkey, also funded by UNESCO. Mustapha further revealed that the University of Cape Town and Makerere University are developing a master’s program focused on traditional African games, signifying a scientific approach to documenting and studying these cultural practices.
In response, Lamin expressed his gratitude and pride in collaborating with fellow countrymen dedicated to promoting African culture. Drawing from his experiences in South Africa, he recognized the importance of Pan-Africanism and the collective contributions of African nations to the liberation movement. He reaffirmed that traditional African games foster unity and pledged support to the Zimbabwe Commission on Games and Sports, promising to visit their office soon. He also assured that the Regional Office would work collaboratively with country commissions to advance these initiatives.
Lizzie Mupure, head of Zimbabwe’s Traditional Games and Sports Commission, thanked Lamin for the meeting and expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration. She commended the Sierra Leone delegation for their advocacy, noting that their commitment to partnership signals a promising future for fostering positive outcomes for all involved. BT/19/9/202
