It is fact that Ethiopia is well known for its tangible and intangible world heritage coupled with some other untapped cultural dress, food, dance, sport and the like.
Cultural sports are amongst the day to day survival activities of individuals and groups that resorted as natural weapons in a bid to secure wellness. These sports create physical, spiritual, mental and psychological satisfaction initiating competitions between and /or among families, neighbors, villages and cities.
Currently, there are over 290 cultural games registered as traditional and cultural sport and games categories In Ethiopia. Ye Genna Chewata (a kind of hockey), horse racing, Gugs (a kind of polo), Gebeta, Gemed Guteta and Segno Maksegno are among the cultural sports and games in Ethiopia. They can create a strong emotion of friendship at national and international level through building strong ties, a sense of compositions and games.
Ye Gena Chewata always marks Ethiopian Christmas celebration. It is one of the traditional sporting games created and played in the highlands of Ethiopia; the game bears many similarities with modern day field hockey. Both games are played between two groups. And also use similar materials to play the game. But, while the former is only cultural game, earlier is international and Olympic game.
Befikadu Belay, theology scholar of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church says Ethiopians played Ye Genna Chewata long before field hockey became popular Olympic game in the West. However, because of lack of awareness other western countries have taken recognition on the game.
As to him, the game has two myths to be welcomed by Ethiopians that are directly or indirectly related with the birth of Jesus.
The first reason is related to the three Wise men who travelled in search of Jesus the Son. “As they cross his land Herod met and asked them what they were in search of. And they told him that they were looking for the King that had been prophesied to be born on those days.
Herod asked them if they would tell him where the child was born on their way back home. They agreed. On the journey to Bethlehem Herod sent a spy named Roor. He was supposed to go with the wise men to Bethlehem for helping Herod that he could kill the child for prophesy.
A star in the sky served the wise men as a guide. But after they met Herod the star was difficult to be seen. The stranger was found to be the cause for the disappearance of the guiding star. They cut off his head and played with it hitting and passing it amongst them.
Now, the Angel of God appeared in the wise men’s dream and told them to change their route when they went back. They listened to the Angle of the Lord and went back to their land without telling anything about the Child’s whereabouts to Herod.
As a memory for this happening a game called Yegena Chewata has been played by Ethiopians since Christianity was introduced. The game is played with a stick much like a golf club and a little wooden ball named after the spy – Roor” he stated.
‘Be Gena Chewata Ayekotum Geta, Yelem Lole Geta’ is Ethiopian saying which is used to remember at every Genna play. The literal meaning of which is that on the game of Gena the servant’s owner no matter what happened would not get angry at anyone. And it also indicates that there is no superiority and inferiority complex at a time of playing the game. That is why Ethiopians say the game facilitates a strong feeling of bonding and friendship at national level.
“The other myth is”, he added “when Jesus Christ was born, the news was heralded all over the world and when the shepherds heard it they started jumping with joy, throwing things around, playing different games like yegena chewata /hockey/ and that’s how the game was started” he added. Therefore, Ethiopia has a long story to start playing Genna game.
All things considered, Befikadu stated that we Ethiopians are not giving due attention for this traditional sport despite Federation of International Hockey by its self also witnessed Ethiopia passion for the game. Therefore, the Church particularly along with the government and other stake holders should strive for reviving Ye Genna Chewata.
The Ethiopian Herald January 11/2020
BY HIZKEL HAILU
