Exploring digitization and archiving of Indigenous games, diketo (Project in Progress – video)

Last year, Now Play This partnered with Playtopia Festival in Cape Town to showcase games as part of their Indie Planet chapter. This year, we’re thrilled to continue the collaboration by sharing a preview of a project-in-progress by Imameleng Masitha, developed for the upcoming Playtopia edition. Deeply connected to our festival theme, the project explores the digitization and archiving of Indigenous games in South Africa—focusing on diketo—and reflects on how these living traditions can be preserved through ethical, community-led, and decolonial approaches. Imameleng has shared an introductory video and abstract to present her ongoing research.

Exploring digitization and archiving of Indigenous games, diketo
Imameleng Masitha
Cape Town, South Africa
2025

Indigenous games in South Africa and across the African continent are regarded as intangible
cultural heritage or living heritage. Their classification as such highlights the challenge of
digitizing or archiving them without losing their essence, as these games are deeply rooted in
oral traditions and practical transmission across generations. The games exist under many
names, varying by culture, region, and country, and they reflect the social values, knowledge
systems, and communal practices of African societies. However, the influence of digital
technologies—especially the growing dominance of computer and television games—has
contributed to the decline in the intergenerational transfer of these indigenous practices. As
Sakalaka and Roux et al. (2023: 269) point out, children are increasingly conditioned to view
Western games as “superior” to Indigenous ones, further accelerating the marginalization of
traditional games. Consequently, many indigenous games are nearing obsolescence in African
countries.

Despite these challenges, South Africa recognizes the cultural importance of indigenous games
through institutional support. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, along with the
Department of Basic Education, plays a key role in promoting and sustaining these games as
part of national heritage. Furthermore, the legislative framework provided by the Protection,
Promotion, Development, and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act 6 of 2019 supports
the safeguarding of indigenous knowledge systems, including traditional games.
I am excited to be exploring the making of these games through the Playtopia Festival in 2025,
where I will be experimenting with prototypes that reimagine these games without taking away
their significance or erasing their memory. This research acknowledges the critical need to
preserve Indigenous games while exploring ethical and decolonial approaches to their
digitization. It argues that preservation strategies must be community-led, culturally sensitive,
and rooted in the values of the knowledge holders to ensure the continuity and relevance of
Indigenous games in contemporary society.

Learn more about Playtopia [ here ]