MAAS / Department of African Studies / The aim of the study was to rethink the role of mahundwane as an educational game for Vhavenda speaking youth. Since time-immemorial, mahundwane has been an integral part in empowering the Vhavenda youth for marriage, sexuality education, moral behaviour and other African values. It has been noted that with the advent of modernisation and lack of documentation, mahundwane has been abandoned by the majority of Vhavenda youth resulting in many social-ills like teenage pregnancy and others. The overall objectives were to explore the nature and the process of mahundwane as an educational game for Vhavenda youth, to identify the teaching acquired during mahundwane game and to examine the educational value of mahundwane in Vhavenda youth. The study was founded on the socio-cultural theory and modernisation theory to attain its findings. This study utilised the qualitative research design. Data collection methods included face-to-face semi-structured interviews, observations and focus group discussions. The study participants were selected using purposive and snow-balling sampling. To effectively document the nature, processes and the role of mahundwane in educating the youth, community elders and other knowledge holders were engaged. This study was of importance in reviving some indigenous games that are almost extinct. The study recommends an introduction and intensive expansion of social media technologies, inclusion of the indigenous games into the education curriculum and introducing copyright and intellectual property rights to effectively address the extinction of indigenous games and practices. / NRF

MAAS / Department of African Studies / The main purpose of the study was to explore factors that contribute to the extinction of traditional games in Lepelle Nkumpi District, Limpopo Province. This study utilized a qualitative approach to identify factors that contribute to the disappearance of indigenous games in communities. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used for data collection and data was analyzed using thematic approach. The population was comprised of youth from Ga-Ledwaba village who played the games before or watched them. Purposive sampling was used to select five youths and five knowledge holders. The study found that young people at Ga-Ledwaba village do not play indigenous games like they were played before. Furthermore, the study revealed reasons that hinder young people from participating in indigenous games such as loss of interest because games are not properly introduced and facilitated in the village, knowledge holders have lost interest in transferring their skills and being role models to youth, technology is taking over, young people spend most of their free time on electronic devices that allow them to access most of the social media and games. The study recommends that proper planning and implementation is needed to ensure that programmes run smooth by involving parents and schools in the decision making to create a sense of ownership around the community. / NRF