The African Origin Of Sport

Exploring the African Origins of Sports: A Journey through History and Culture

“African Origin of Sport” is a six-part documentary produced by Best UK Images Production Ltd, which deeply explores the African legacy in the sports, games and exercise practices we know today.

The series embark on a historical journey, going back over five thousand years, when ancient African civilisations created a ‘Great Philosophy’ which manifested itself in various forms of sport and play. Programmes reveal how the ancient Greeks looked to ancient Egypt for advice in organising the Olympic Games, how board games such as chess and backgammon were invented by Africans as ‘military strategy’, and how ‘the ball’, an object of universal pleasure and exercise, has its roots in African creativity.

Watch the Trailer

In addition, the series highlight how what is generally considered today as ‘physical education and sport’ were created by ancient Africans as spiritual practices, in an intellectual and medicinal framework, and were mainly used for spiritual and therapeutic purposes.

Contributions from Eminent Historians and Sports Star

The series use live action footage, archaeological materials, archival images and animation to illustrate historicity. Eminent historians from Cambridge, Loughborough and several African universities provide content, verification and validation of the sports/games/exercise stories. In addition, current and retired sports stars, including possibly the Williams sisters, Usain Bolt, Marlene Ottey, Linford Christie, Christine Ohuruogu, possibly Lewis Hamilton, John Barnes and Ian Wright, among others, have been approached to «present and discuss» the African origin of their sport..

Aimed at all sports lovers, especially lovers of ball sports, gymnastics, tennis, martial arts, wrestling, water sports, Formula One, hockey, horse racing, etc., this documentary is an eye-opener on how African sporting history has been excluded and how its recognition can change the way we view sport today.

Exploring the African Concepts in Each Episode

Programme 1:

This episode establishes the series with a discussion of sports, games and exercises as African concepts. It explores how the fitness practices of the pharaohs and their armies evolved into track and field athletics, and how children’s games such as gymnastics and the long jump of African children evolved into Olympic sports.

Programme 2:

In this episode, we discuss how archery, javelin, water sports such as canoeing, rowing and fishing evolved from the needs of hunter-gatherers in the Nile Valley civilisations.

Programme 3:

This episode discusses how fencing, boxing and wrestling rituals evolved from the humble roots of African stick fighting, Nubian bare-knuckle boxing and wrestling. It also discusses how the Egyptians pioneered refereeing in wrestling and organised competitive sporting events, forerunners of the modern Olympic Games.

Programme 4:

This episode reveals the fact that the ancient Greeks sent emissaries to ancient Egypt seeking advice on how to organise the ancient Olympic Games. It also looks at the evolution of board games, notably chess, backgammon, draughts and snakes and ladders.

Programme 5:

In this episode, African and Oxbridge teachers reveal how ‘the ball’ was invented by Africans and has since evolved into mankind’s greatest object of pleasure, exercise and economic success. This programme is illustrated by all or most of the ball games.

Programme 6:

In the final episode, teachers, practitioners and experts discuss the role of the ball in science, particularly in engineering. The programme also explores how what is generally regarded today as “physical education and sport” were created by ancient Africans as spiritual practices, in an intellectual and medicinal framework.

Each episode offers a unique and fascinating insight into the history and evolution of sport, from its origins in ancient African civilisations to its place in modern society.