The South African Indigenous Games Research Project of 2001/2002 : research article

Research on indigenous games and play behaviour within the South African context has to a great extent been ad hoc, and influenced by theoretical traditions and practices. Informed by global research trends and national interest, a research project was undertaken in an attempt to address the need for indigenous knowledgeresearch. This paper reports on the National Indigenous Games Research Project of 2001/2002 in which eleven tertiary institutions collaborated. Researchers from these institutions collected data from 6489 participants through questionnaires (quantitative data on trends, content and nature of games), triangulated with focus groups, case studies, observations and visual recordings (qualitative data). The sample is representative of the ethnic, gender, geographic (urban and rural), and socio-economic diversity in all nine provinces of the Republic of South Africa. A rationale is offered for an ethno-scientific taxonomy, representing a culturally informed reconstruction of South African children's games. The paper explores and reports on game preference, socio-cultural themes and play behaviour. An analysis of the theoretical underpinnings, participant-constructed meanings, reasons for playing and play patterns are reflected upon. Keywords: Indigenous games, Play, Culture, South Africa South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol.26(1) 2004: 9-2