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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Physical Activity and Development in Kenya
Author:Mählmann, PeterISNI
Year:1990
Periodical:Transafrican Journal of History (ISSN 0251-0391)
Volume:19
Pages:165-179
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Kenya
East Africa
Subjects:sports
Development and Technology
History and Exploration
Imperialism, Colonialism
imperialism
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/24328682
Abstract:This paper examines physical activities (play, games, sports) in Kenya from a sociological-historical perspective. Physical activities in Kenya have undergone tremendous change from precolonial, through colonial, to postcolonial times. Examples are taken mainly from three areas in which Kenyans have excelled: soccer, athletics, and boxing. Members of particular communities have been strongly associated with each of these sports (Kalenjin with athletics, Luo with soccer, and Kikuyu with boxing). For the traditional performer of physical activities fitness was a daily requirement. The warrior, especially, had an important role to play in defending his clan. The colonialists brought 'their' concepts of modern sports into the country and almost completely suppressed the traditional culture. Traditional games were regionally limited. Modern sports are practised nationwide and internationally and, therefore, need nationwide and international organizational structures, which has led to the development of national sports associations. At independence, a pyramidal, highly competitive system was introduced and is still prevalent even in educational institutions at the cost of pedagogical principles. A call for an all-round sports development programme concludes the article. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
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