The Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq, on Friday, July 5, 2024, signed a historic cross-border MOU with Namibian Authorities and the Management of The Dome Sport Facility to deliver traditional sports across 54 African nations and to give the greenlight for the hosting of the 1st African Traditional Games scheduled for 2026.
Sierra Leone, housing the African Traditional Sports Secretariat, is leading the way after six years of brain-racking strides to make the initiative a reality.
Representing Sierra Leone in that part of Africa were Dr. Saffa Abdulai and Chief Michael Shamsu Mustapha, NSA Project Coordinator.
The two dynamic gentlemen ended their five-day visit on Friday in Namibia after touring the country’s sporting facilities for its hosting of the 2026 African Traditional Games.
Also present for the signing were Mr Fred Mwiya – Chief Administrator at the Namibia Sport Commission, and Mr. Fanus, CEO for the Dome Sport Facility.
The success behind the trip has mirrored in the role Sierra Leone Government has played in hosting the Secretariat.
In Namibia, Sierra Leone struck a series of partnerships to boost its technical and infrastructural integrity.
The inspection visit has strengthened the bilateral relationship between both countries and has shown the sport influence of Sierra Leoneans on the African Continent.
Dr. Abdulai has emphasized the significance of preserving culture and tradition in sports, highlighting Sierra Leone’s rich heritage in this regard. He has stressed the importance of blending European sports with traditional cultural games to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
For the first time, Africans, Sierra Leoneans in particular, will be given the official chance to participate in games they know from childhood.
The following games have been identified in Sierra Leone:
• Touch
• Balancing ball
• Skipping rope
• Hide and seek
• Boskilie
• 6 Cup
• Stopper
• In the court, out of the court
• Mella
• Stone and Gehgeh
• Tin Tan To
• Ar-die
• Ngehgeh
• Tet
The country will launch its own version of traditional games on August 14, 2024, to redefine the role of sport in the development of Sierra Leone under the new NSA Boss.
It is remarkable to note that this is the only continental organisation with its Secretariat in Sierra Leone.
