From Computer games to traditional outdoor Kriol games: Fun day being held at “Yaabra” field on Monday

By Benjamin Flowers: The National Kriol Council (NKC), in collaboration with the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Belize City Council, is hosting a fund day filled with traditional Kriol games at the Yaborough “Yaabra” field on Monday, March 6.

The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will feature activities such as the lime and spoon race, needle and thread race, sack race, marbles, and tug of war.

Marilyn Gavin, President of the NKC told Breaking Belize News (BBN)that hosting the event and others like it is important because these games, which were prevalent in society at one point are being replaced by technological devices, which can rob youths of the opportunity to reap the benefits that come with playing with friends outside.

“Outdoor events played by kids are being replaced by gadgets, by sitting in front of the television, or some other form of electronic device. The drawback to this are many, ranging from lack of communication, lack of mobility-exercise, lack of connecting and appreciation of nature, and the list can go on. Hosting events such as these and in particular traditional games is to retain a part of our culture that is slowly dying,” Gavin said.

Notably, the late Artist Emeritus Myna Manzanares highlighted the decline in the importance of these games in her book “traditional games of Belize” which prompted her to compile the book as a means of preserving the culture.

A major feature of the fun day will be the kite-making workshop, which is being sponsored by the Belize City Council.

“Kite making is actually part of the Belizean culture. It’s a local tradition that’s been passed down from generation to generation,” Gavin added.

The NKC is the flagship organization for the preservation and promotion of Kriol culture in Belize. The council was instrumental in the work of having Kriol officially designated as a recognized language and has been battling the stigma that it is merely broken or “bad” English.

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