Could cultural games be the antidote to tackling anti-social behaviour?

If you grew up in Africa or the Caribbean playing cultural games like Ampe, Chaskele, Kalooki, one London-based organisation is keen to ensure that these games are promoted to future generations living in the diaspora.

Photo by RDNE Stock project/ Pexels

The Cultural Games Association (CGA) UK has mapped out plans to promote the social, health and cultural benefits of traditional African and Caribbean games and sports to the next generation.

These include highlighting how promoting these games can help to instil a positive sense of identity in the young that will hopefully steer them away from anti-social behaviour and crime.

L-R - CGA-UK Vice Chair Daniel Kwasi Oppong, Pastor Grace Modupe Adejuwon, Coreen Carberry GUSDA Secretary UK, Adonten Hene I Nana Amoako Okokobriko, Mala Solomon-Bheem GUSDA, CGA-UK Chairperson Vincent M John, Dr. Richard Eghan, Queen Mother Nana Akua Agyeman Opambour I, Apenkrahemaa Ejisu District.

We went along to CGA-UK's launch event in February 2024, to find out more.

Weeks later, we spoke to representatives from the Association - Vincent John, chair of CGA-UK and Mariama Grant, CGA-UK secretary.

Listen to our chat with them on our Connecting Communities Podcast: 'Could cultural games be the antidote to tackling anti-social behaviour?'.

We also spoke to Stephen Barnabis, founder of Project Zero, and Mrs Joyce Mahama, president of Women Sports Association of Ghana (WOSPAG) and president of African Women in Sports Association (AWISA).

You will also hear excerpts from our interview with Claudia Owusu and Ife Oluwamuyide, co-creators of the film 'Ampe: Leap into the Sky, Black Girl'.

We interviewed the back in June 2023. You can hear the full episode below.

Let us know if you think cultural games can be a tool used to tackle antisocial behaviour.

And click the link below to read our summary after attending the CGA-UK launch.

New UK organisation to revive cultural interest in African and Caribbean games