Literature

Sports and culture as tools for national development

As Kaduna hosts the 16th National Sports Festival taking place from 15th to 25th February, 2009, SUMAILA UMAISHA examines the synergy between sports and cultre in relation to their roles in the development of Nigeria.

Many people regard sporting activities as ?civilized? forms of entertainment and cultural performances as celebrations of the past. While this notion may not be completely wrong, a closer look at the two would reveal an interesting symbiotic relationship in terms of definition, origin and function.

The beliefs, ideas, value systems, aspirations, traditions and customs that are shared among the people and handed down from generation to generation are what constitute culture. Sports, on the other hand, involves physical and mental activities in which people compete against each other. In other words, it is an entertainment where the capabilities of the competitors are put to test.

These definitions show a remarkable affinity between sports and culture in the sense that human aspiration, which is central to sports competition, is part of our cultural attributes. In fact, the desire for the best, as symbolised by the efforts and resultant achievements of sportsmen and women, is responsible for the cultural growth and development mankind has achieved so far.

This fact is quite evident in sports history, which extends as far back as the ancient times when it served solely as a means of physical skill acquisition for hunting and self-defence, and later as a mode of artistic expression for religious and entertainment purposes. Archery, for instance, is said to be one of such ancient sports that had served the dual purpose of functional values and entertainment.

It is indeed still serving these purposes because most of the traditional games of old, including archery, had been passed down the generations with some undergoing modifications in line with changing societal values and technological advancement. In spite of the advent of western sports in the late 19th and 20th centuries with their overwhelming influence, traditional sports continue to flourish especially in Africa. In Nigeria there are sporting activities like dambe, kokuwa, charepke, langa, catapulting, horse racing, boat regatta and a host of others that predate the country?s history. All these are preserved and developed by the rich culture and they in turn continue to sustain and project the dignity of our culture.

The most interesting aspect of the traditional sports is that there is a combination of the elements of sports and art in their execution. For instance, kokuwa does not merely impress the audience as an effective way of self-defence, but the real thrill comes from the ability, style and skills being displayed. And this is why sports festivals in Nigeria, being an intrinsic part of the nation?s culture, always seize every opportunity to bring into play the synergy between our rich cultural heritage and sports. The occasion is usually used to showcase our identity to the world, to tell the world who we are in terms of history, culture, economy and politics. This is shown through the activities marking the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival and the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited during the mainstream sporting events.

The display of sportsmanship is indeed a reflection of our nationalist culture which has long been entrenched in the polity by past leaders. Nationalism and sports are intertwined in the process of nation building and the promotion of peace and unity, which is why successive governments have made sports a priority.

The bid to use sports as a vehicle for the promotion of culture and national image in Nigeria began as far back as the colonial era when the country participated in international sports competitions like the 1950 edition of the British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Following the successes recorded at the events, the National Sports Commission was set up to coordinate and further boost the country?s chances in subsequent competitions. Through the efforts of the commission Nigeria was able to host the 2nd All Africa Games in 1973. The feat was repeated 35 years later. Tagged ?Abuja 2003?, the event turned out to be one of the best in the history of the games in terms of scope and splendour; a superlative display of sports and culture. The opening and closing ceremonies, in particular, were showcased in a manner that portrayed the very essence of our culture.

The National Sports Festival was instituted in the same year the 2nd All Africa Games was hosted. And since then the festival has been held biennially with the aim of promoting our culture and discovering new talents that would represent the country in international competitions. The 16th edition is equally tailored towards achieving the same objectives ? to exploit the synergy between sports and culture for national development.

(c) By Sumaila Umaisha, published in the New Nigerian edition of 7/2/09.

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