While board games are fun pastimes the world over, few consider how the games we play connect to our culture
But the intersection between board games and a sense of cultural identity was fully on display at Delki Dozzi Community Centre on July 4 during the third annual African Board Games Festival
Organized by Heritage Konnect, which describes itself “a global outreach initiative dedicated to enhancing the lifestyle and health of Africans in the City of Greater Sudbury,” the festival drew a crowd to play board games like ayo, ludo and drafts, which are popular across numerous countries on the African continent
The main organizer of the event was Joy Nwankwo of Heritage Konnect, who told Sudbury.com the goal of the festival is to help newcomers, particularly the children of newcomers, “connect with their heritage.”
“Sudbury is far away from home … and board games are a common way to connect,” she said. “It’s a piece of home.”
Sudbury’s African diaspora community has grown quite large in recent years. As of the 2021 census, the city’s African diaspora and Black community had grown to between 4,000 and 5,000 people, representing around 2.4 per cent of the population
Nwankwo said the event brings the Black community together around the board games that connect them to home, but, perhaps more importantly, it connects the children of newcomers to their heritage and culture
It’s something Heritage Konnect does often, attending events to teach the popular games to young people, Nwankwo said
“We just don’t want them to lose touch with where they come from,” she said
Besides “cultural” board games like ayo and ludo, the festival had various soccer-related activities in a nod to the World Cup, as well as foosball and table tennis. Various vendors were also on site offering wellness and cultural products. The youngsters and their parents also enjoyed tri
The city provided free GOVA Transit rides to the event
Mark Gentili is the editor of Sudbury.com
