Law and Order in Iintonga (Sticks) Game within Amaxhosa

Abstract

Colonial narratives portrayed African society as chaotic and lacking law and order in all aspects of life. This article rejects this myth. It first argues that the traditional African society had law and order in all spheres: political, social, intellectual, cultural, and economic. It further argues that one aspect of culture, namely sport, and one sporting code, umdlalo weentonga (sticks game), which is relevant to folklore studies, was governed by law and order in its unadulterated form. The article debunks the claims made by earlier colonial scholars, particularly colonial anthropologists. Hence, the application of the post-colonial theory of literary criticism, which rejects colonial stereotypes and celebrates the cultural identity of amaXhosa. The inspiration for the article is Mqhayi’s discourse on the traditional Xhosa people’s concept of law and order before colonialism in the novel Ityala Lamawele (The lawsuit of the twins). The article argues that the sticks game had rules and regulations which made it fair and less harmful. It illustrates with a poem, “Mhela Mfondini,” in UVulindlela by Mona, which is analysed and interpreted by Mbolekwa, who unravels the positive aspects of the sticks game. The article argues that risks associated with the sticks game can be minimised through modern technology and commends the government initiatives to revive the indigenous games.