mmegi

Mokwakwa: The boy's rough game

Parrying blows:The late South African president Nelson Mandela, a Xhosa who grew up in the Eastern Cape, was taught intonga (stick-fight) by herd boys, which is akin to local mokwakwa
Parrying blows:The late South African president Nelson Mandela, a Xhosa who grew up in the Eastern Cape, was taught intonga (stick-fight) by herd boys, which is akin to local mokwakwa

The antique art of mokwakwa practised many years ago amongst the rural boys in our village, was a test of strength and territorial defence not only for the two clashing groups of boys but the wider groups of boys across the Palapye wards. Writes Mmegi Staffer RYDER GABATHUSE

Sometimes mokwakwa provided entertainment to the villagers although it often rubbed some the wrong way, especially those chased out of the territory. It was through this somewhat outlandish game that boys were able to defend their territory by ensuring that after the meeting, no strangers hanged around longer in their area than it was necessary.

It was a quick way of removing all possible threats including boys from other areas taking the territory’s girls. Usually during street soccer games there were gifted boys who would shine and received more cheers from the territory’s girls and thereby raising fears of the area boys losing their partners.

Editor's Comment
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

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