Abstract:
For a traditional community to be productive and competitive, traditional games and sports were part
and parcel of the indigenous communities. With globalisation, communities have embraced modern
games, thereby pushing traditional games into oblivion. The study investigated how traditional games
and sports can be popularised to attain sustainable development goals through indigenous knowledge
among the Luo youth. The objective of the study was to identify traditional games and sports
among the Luo community in Kenya, analyse the socioeconomic benefits of traditional games to
the youth, investigate the level of acceptance of the games among the youth, examine the factors
that influence the acceptance of traditional games among the youth, and recommend strategies to
popularise traditional games amongst the Luo youth. The target population for the study was 40
participants drawn from Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori counties, predominantly inhabited
by the Luo community, using purposive sampling. The study used a qualitative survey to collect data
from community and youth leaders from the three county governments. Key informant interviews were
also conducted with departments of sports and culture in the four county governments. The data were
analysed and reported using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed the unpopularity
of traditional games and sports amongst the Luo youth in Kenya. Ten traditional games and sports
were identified. The findings of the study may be used to articulate the socioeconomic benefits of
traditional games and sports, specifically for youth.
