JAKARTA - Traditional games have long been an important part of the journey of the archipelago culture. In the midst of the dominance of fast-paced and individualistic digital games, people's games such as slank, sack racing, gasing, or congklak are not only forms of entertainment, but also social, cultural, and character learning media for children.
The values of togetherness, sportsmanship, cooperation, and joy born from this game make it still relevant even in the modern era.
Seeing this important role, the Government of Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara together with the Indonesian Traditional People's and Sports Game Committee (KPOTI) collaborated to reintroduce traditional games through a festival aimed at the younger generation.
This activity is expected to be a fun learning room as well as a means of building a local cultural identity.
"Traditional wisdom is one way to raise our children with cultural values in the midst of the current flow of digital developments," said Kupang City Regional Secretary Jeffry Pelt in Kupang, as quoted by ANTARA.
SEE ALSO:
He assessed that people's play can strengthen children's character as well as become a bulwark for local culture from the negative influence of the digital era. According to him, the trend of today's games tends to be individualistic and minimal face-to-face interactions, so that reintroducing traditional games can foster a sense of togetherness and cohesiveness.
"In the future, this activity needs to be routinely mobilized. We are trying to be presented at cultural festivals at the village level," added Jeffry. He also said that this activity opened up opportunities for local MSMEs to be involved, as well as strengthen the cultural ecosystem in the regions.
The head of Kupang City KPOTI, Goris Takene, said that the festival, which was held on December 5'6, 2025, was attended by hundreds of students from 64 elementary and secondary schools in Kupang City.
"This festival is a cultural movement and calls for the heart to maintain a traditional heritage that is increasingly eroded by the currents of the times," he said.
He explained that this activity is not just a competition, but a space for children to interact, learn to work together, hone social skills, and appreciate hereditary traditions. According to Goris, this step is in line with the vision of the City of Kupang in building character human resources, as well as realizing a culture-based city and the environment.
Goris hopes that similar activities can be expanded to schools and communities so that the value of unity, joy, and cultural identity will increasingly live in the lives of Kupang children.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
