Somersaulting

MaNdlovu Mkhize of KwaSithebe regards somersaulting as a game of standing on ones head with the legs in the air.

Contents
1 The person consulted
2 Who play this game?
3 What is used to play this game?
4 When is this game played?
5 Where is this game played?
6 How is this game played?
7 Custom associated with this game
8 Source

The person consulted
The researcher spoke to Mrs. MaNdlovu Mkhize of KwaSithebe about how this game is played.

Who plays this game?

This game is played by girls between the ages of 6 – 10.

What is used to play this game?
No equipment is used to play this game.

When is this game played?
This game is played during the day in summer when grass is growing.

Where is this game played?
This game is played either in a grassy area or in the kraal where there is manure making the ground soft.

How is this game played?
The children look for a spot with thick grass and no stones that children do not get hurt. Children meet in this spot and begin the game. They stand on their heads with the legs in the air. This is fairly easy for the children. Some would quickly fall and others would continue standing on their heads. The game would continue until only one person remains on her head and she becomes the winner.

Custom associated with this game
There is no cultural background associated with this game among African children. There is also no evidence that it was adopted from other races. It is a natural game which builds the muscles of the children.

Source
From a Masters dissertation by Victoria Mkhize for the School of IsiZulu, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Supervised by Professors P.J. Zungu and V. Prabhakaran.

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