Honoring the Spirit of Namibia Through Traditional Sports In celebration of the International Day of Traditional Sports and Games, we are proud to present a heartfelt contribution from Dr. Gisela Siririka, a respected academic and advocate for gender equality and inclusive curriculum design. In this powerful personal essay, Dr. Siririka takes us on a journey back to her childhood in Otjombinde Constituency, Omaheke Region — a place where the essence of tradition lives through play, memory, and rhythm. Echoes of the Past: Traditional Sports and Games in Otjombinde Constituency, Omaheke region in Namibia By Dr. Gisela Siririka Long ago in the mid 70’s, before smartphones and stadiums, before the sounds of modern whistles and scoreboards filled the air, the villages of Namibia in Otjombinde constituency in Omaheke region such as Otjovazandu (Tallismanus) Otjijere, Nuwe More, Okawarongo, Otjinambo, Bella Vista, Grobellaar, De Hoek, Erindi rozombaka, Okahua, Okaoveni, Otjikoto, Oruana, Julledam, Sukkelaar, Wilskrag, Helena, Lister, Koppie Allen, Bolens echoed with laughter, song, and the rhythm of traditional games. Under the shade of Omumbonde (camelthorn), Omungondo, Omupeta and Eucalyptus trees, where elders shared wisdom (Ovihambarere) and children played barefoot, traditional sports were not just games, they were a way of life. I remember, during the late ’70s at “Lister primary school where I started my Grade 1” today known as Traugot Kandorozu primary school, listening to stories from the older girls in the big hostel room. Some of these stories were scary, yet they taught us life skills without us even realising it. In the heart of the Omaheke region, fathers and boys would gather after herding cattle to play Onyune/Otjitoto, a game of reflexes and coordination involving small stones or seeds. In my family, holidays were Onyune/Otjitoto time! Time of fun and happiness! Myself and my late father Tatemujenda loved this game! So we had to quickly get into it to firmly compete with people from other villages such as Kauha from Grobellaar and Oom Saul from Bella Vista. With sharp eyes and fast fingers, the players would compete to catch and toss the stones in rhythm testing not just skill but patience. The best players became folktales in the village, their names passed down in storytelling. I was great at it, I could win! For a family or community it was the perfect way to spend time together, even though we sometimes brutally teased each other as young people. It is a way to unify people from various villages such as Otjorutjandja, Grobellar and Bella Vista and preserve cultural heritage. It is where you will find a young San boy speaking to a school principal and an elderly San speaking man (Kaitana) in conversation and laughter, while enjoying the game of Onyune/Otjitoto. It was a great game that allows one to make calculated decisions (Ovivarero-mathematics) and have fun too. Among young boys in the community, omakura okupikasana enjando (a fighting game) was a common sport among teenage boys. It was a test of bravery, strength, and discipline. The boys were watched closely by elders to ensure fair play and to instill respect. While the matches were intense, they rarely ended in harm; victory was celebrated with traditional songs and dances. The elders watched with pride, knowing that through these games, children learned respect, resilience, and the spirit of their ancestors. Meanwhile, young girls played a hopping game with one leg and sometimes both legs and a jumping game using pebbles and drawn patterns in the dust. It wasn’t just a game; it was a dance of balance and rhythm, often accompanied by clapping and songs. The joy in their movements told stories of pride, unity, and the importance of teamwork. Traditional games were also used to teach life skills. Children learned counting, critical thinking, and strategy through board games made from carved wood and seeds (Onyune/Otjitoto, Ondukuri). Girls used songs in games like hand clapping rhythms such as Kazombiritjena Kamatorotoro vijorero to strengthen language and memory. Games were inclusive, adaptable, and deeply rooted in Otjiherero culture. But as the winds of change blew across Namibia through colonialism, urbanisation, and globalisation many of these games faded into quiet memories. Concrete replaced open fields, and television and cellphones replaced fireside storytelling (Ovihambarerero) and “Blokblokpapille at night”. Yet, in remote areas and among cultural revivalists, these games are making a comeback rediscovered as treasures of identity and pride such as Amangus, Onyune/Otjitoto, Ongoze (rope skipping). Today, there is a growing movement to revive traditional sports and games, recognising them not only as entertainment but as tools for education, cultural preservation, and community healing. Schools, festivals, and heritage projects now integrate traditional games into their programmes, allowing new generations to reconnect with their roots. The children of Namibia once played in the dust, not knowing they were walking in the footsteps of generations before them learning, laughing, and growing. And now, as the past whispers through the land, traditional sports are being heard once more. Let us catch the stones, dance the rhythm, and pass the torch. For in these games lie the spirit of Namibia — resilient, vibrant, and forever alive. About Dr. Gisela Siririka Dr Gisela Siririka is the Vice President of Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Office of the President, Africa Traditional Sports and Games Confederation (ATSGC). She holds a PhD in Curriculum Studies from the University of Namibia with 22 years of experience in developing inclusive and equitable education frameworks, particularly in sports and physical education. Dr Siririka’s work is deeply rooted in ensuring that physical education is accessible and inclusive for learners of all genders, backgrounds, and abilities. As a curriculum developer, she incorporates traditional and indigenous games to safeguard heritage while advancing SDG-aligned education. She is a national-level PE coordinator and a respected voice for the reintroduction of African traditional sports into formal education systems, making a lasting impact across the continent.