Generation Zero or Gen Z has become accustomed to playing games using cell phones or computers. As information technology flows fast, children living in big cities to rural areas are immersed in digital games.
Some of these Gen Zs no longer even interact with other humans directly when playing. They prefer to play at home while their playing partner is on the cellphone screen.
But this is different for the children of the Dani Tribe in the Baliem Valley, Papua. The children have traditional games that are very close to the environment and nature.
“The Dani children in the Baliem Valley are engrossed in the traditional life of the Papuan mountains,” said Hari Suroto, a researcher at the Papua Archaeology Center.
The day explains that after school, these children will play in groups. The boys hunt for insects such as crickets, tonggeret or grasshoppers. They burn the insects and then eat them together.
“While after school, Dani girls generally help their mothers in the garden or knit noken,” he said.
The 43-year-old explained some of the traditional games that Dani children play in groups in the schoolyard or village field. The games include sege throwing (a kind of spear and archery). “The one who can throw the sege the farthest wins,” he said.
The man who is also a lecturer in archaeology at Cenderawasih University, Papua, said that some of these traditional games can be witnessed at the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival. Usually this festival is held in August.
At the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, there are also traditional games conducted by adults and of course prizes. One of the most interesting competitions of the festival is the pig race, which is participated in by women.
But as Hari explained, Dani children living in Wamena City no longer play traditional games. Instead, they play modern games such as soccer or volleyball.
