Afro Culture Kids Intertribal Games

By Lindiwe Msimang, Kanukai Chigamba & Viva Allen

The Second Annual Intertribal Games 2024 was competitive this year, well the year before was competitive too, but this year a lot of the teams were trying to redeem themselves from last year, so it was crazy!!!!

Teams, Marula (South African), Mopane (Zimbabwean), and Iroko (Nigerian), were going head-to-head competing in games to determine the tribe among tribes. Competition this year did not come to play. It was a potluck family day, so families and everyone involved had to bring a dish that was an authentic and proudly african dish from their background. The food table filled up quick and everyone had plenty to eat.

Picture this: vibrant Lungu Boy rhythms fill the crisp morning air. Babies giggle and dance, reconnecting with old friends while Afro Culture Kids Camp creates a magical space where generations blend seamlessly. Here, cultural celebration meets preservation in a delicate dance of ritual and joy.

Iroko in the Hausa!!!!

Maruuuulaaaa…Yebo Yebo!!!!

Hande Mopane!!!

It’s all cheers from different agemates in each tribe house at Dimond Park in Oakland during our 2nd Annual Intertribal Games & Chow Day. Every year, we invite our ACK Family and community of people of African descent to bring a dish from their culture and play games for a couple of hours. It is a time we celebrate the hard work our campers have put into learning new cultures and activities at camp while also being allowed room to be creative and compete with each other.

We follow a similar flow of how our camp days flow by having an opening circle and a moment where everyone present is taught different language phrases and games by our camp tetes. Kids get to showcase what they have learned, dance and chants performances from each team repping our three main tribes from Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Whether it’s the kids race or the adults races, it is guaranteed some laughs and tears. Nobody wants their team to lose, so all chants of encouragement from different languages will just be popping up everywhere.

Make it stand out

Mindfulness and yoga led by one of our Afro Culture Kids Camp facilitator, ChaseJameson Spears, to let the kids warm up for the days games.

We gathered in a circle under Oakland’s overcast skies, singing, learning new greetings, and diving into a variety of games. We shared stories, laughed until our bellies hurt, and feasted on a table brimming with delectable diasporic dishes, including chakalaka, sadza and refreshing homemade lemonade. We savored every bite, returning for seconds and thirds of lovingly made treats.

THE intertribal games 2024

The Second Annual Afro Family Intertribe Games & Chow felt like a sweet, tender kiss from summer itself—full of love and nurturing growth. Each year, I look forward to this gathering for the joy of being with family, the thrill of playful competition, and the profound experience of watching generations of youth from Afro Culture Kids Camp share the rich knowledge they’ve gained through Afro Urban Society’s youth program.

This year, was such a great turnout of participants who showed up to either be in community, for food, or actually participate in the competitions. By the time the event was about to end, people were feeling like it had just started and ready to continue competing.

We are grateful to our camp facilitators, the Afro Culture Kids babies, parents and nature for allowing us to have an amazing outdoor day filled with love.

We are coming again next year! Be on the lookout for the 3rd Annual!!