South Papua KPOTI Launches Campaign to Save Endangered Traditional Games
- 09 Jun 2026 20:02 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- The South Papua branch of the Indonesian Traditional Sports and Folk Games Committee (KPOTI) has launched a major initiative to preserve indigenous games and prevent cultural erosion.
- Research findings will be compiled into the Master Book of South Papua Folk Games and Traditional Sports.
RRI.CO.ID, Merauke - The newly formed Indonesian Traditional Sports and Folk Games Committee (KPOTI) of South Papua is launching an ambitious grassroots campaign to combat cultural erasure by tracking down and documenting endangered indigenous games across the region. Rather than operating merely as a conventional sports federation, the committee has positioned itself as a critical guardian of South Papua’s cultural identity.
The initiative takes shape following the committee's inaugural plenary meeting for the 2025–2030 term in Merauke, which was convened to map out strategic policies and establish four priority programs for 2026. This organizational push comes on the heels of the Central KPOTI Executive Board's Decree Number SKEP/26/Pengurus-KPOTI/IV/2026.
As reported by infopublik.id, central to this preservation strategy is a field operation where specialized teams will travel directly to villages and indigenous communities across four regencies, namely Merauke, Mappi, Asmat, and Boven Digoel.
By collaborating closely with tribal leaders, village elders, and cultural experts, KPOTI aims to document traditional pastimes facing extinction. This research will culminate in the publication of the Master Book of South Papua Folk Games and Traditional Sports.
KPOTI South Papua Chairperson, Abraham Koibur, emphasized that folk games and traditional sports are vital pillars of cultural heritage that foster community solidarity, mutual cooperation, and a shared sense of belonging. He warned that failing to actively pass these traditions down to younger generations poses a severe risk to local identity in the Anim Ha region.
"Preserving folk games means maintaining cultural identity and caring for the collective South Papuan community for future generations," said Abraham during the meeting on Monday, June 8, 2026,
To ensure long-term impact, the committee has outlined five strategic objectives. These include building cross-sector partnerships, raising organizational awareness, and leveraging digital media and educational festivals to promote local culture.
A key element of this forward-looking blueprint involves integrating traditional games into school curricula and extracurricular activities. By partnering with the local Education Agency and relevant institutions, KPOTI hopes to offer students a healthy, active alternative to screen time while instilling an appreciation for their cultural roots from an early age. ***
News Recomendation
Loading latest news.....