Public Calls For Revival Of Local Traditional Games

Bandar Seri Begawan - Traditional games once played regularly by children have now begun to lose its fervor especially in this era of globalisation.

Spinning top, marbles, simban, sekupong, main bilun, main gatah, rubber seeds, and congkak are among the popular games back in the seventies and eighties but have now been forgotten to be replaced with high technology gadgets.

To shed more light on this matter, The Brunei Times interviewed the public to gain more insight on these ‘forgotten‘ games.

According to Adi Hamree, 27, a civil servant, when he was younger, he was a big fan of sekupong, marbles and rubber seed games.

"Children were more creative then in finding ways to occupy themselves, we didn‘t need a lot of money to have fun, we didn‘t need high tech games, we had fun with what is already around us," he said.

"I believe that there are children in more rural villages still playing these traditional games, the reason is because, they cannot‘ afford to buy the latest gadgets " he added

He went on to say that this was the problem nowadays; parents tend to give in to their children‘s demand for the latest gadgets and in the end the kids become too absorb with playing the latest high tech games that the traditional games become somewhat obsolete.

Hjh Rabiatul Adawiyah, 34, said that children nowadays are reluctant to play these (traditional) games because they find the games too tiring and not exciting enough," she said.

"Kids nowadays rather stay indoors and play their computer games. I find it hard to convince my son to go outdoors as he rather much stay in the comfort of his air-conditioned room and play his Playstation," she noted.

Herson, Azeezi Hj Rahman, 12, however said that although he thought video games much more exciting, he was willing, to try these traditional games.

"I don‘t mind learning these games, they seem interesting enough, I just wished I had friends who share this interest," he said.

While her nine-year- old niece Hafidzah Halim, a student of PGGMB School answered the question with a resounding ‘uuh?‘

Having been born in the era of factory games, she said she has never even heard of games like main gatah or sekupong and only knows spinning gasing or tops and congkak from her school‘s history books.

David Ong, 26, reminiscing about his primary school days when traditional children‘s were popular.

"Back when I was in Chung Hwa, you would see the corridors full of students engrossed in playing traditional games. It was a lively and social atmosphere there were hardly any segregation," he said.

"I don‘t see that anymore, each kid are too absorbed with their own mini gadgets that social interaction nowadays consist of sharing game ‘cheats‘ and strategies," he added.

The Brunei Times also asked a few individuals on their opinion on how to raise awareness and interests on these traditional games

Adi Hamree was of the opionon that schools and parents should work together in trying to revive this loss culture.

He said: "Instead of focusing on just sports, schools should introduce traditional games as an extracurricular activity. By introducing it as an option, students will be aware of its existence and would be attracted to try. It is a small step, but it is better than not doing anything about it."

"Parents also should play a part by being more interactive with their children. Teaching their children the traditional games is a great way to spend time together instead of just watching television together and leaving them to play their own games," he added.

Another suggestion was by showcasing traditional children‘s games at weddings.

"Bruneians weddings are usually grand affairs attended by individuals from all walks of life. This is the best time to captivate and teach the audience about these games," said Hj Bujang.

Alizah, 46, a teacher agreed with this method of raising awareness.

"Instead of having karaoke competitions or playing bingo to win prizes, why not hold a congkak or simban competition for the, ladies and karam or spinning tops competition for the men," she said.

A group of young individuals with real concern on losing this valuable heritage has taken an initiative by setting up a club to keep the games alive.

Murini, 23, from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam along with a few of her faculty member have formed a club called the Academy of Brunei Studies Communication and Welfare Club aimed to promote various Malay traditional games. "We try as much as we can to showcase these games to people for example during this year‘s Pesta Konvo‘s in UBD, we held demonstrations of various traditional games to promote them to the new generation so they will not be forgotten and also to promote our club to get more members to help us in our quest," she said.-

Source: www.brudirect.com (1 Oktober 2007)
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