Sisonke Taranaki African Community Sports Fest

Saturday 9 November Sisonke Taranaki African Community held its very first Sports Fest at the TSB Hub in Hāwera. A colourful event that was not only multi-ethic representing sportive members of the Taranaki community from several corners of the world, but it was multi-generational as well, having multiple family members participate in one or more teams. Even the littleys enjoyed themselves kicking a ball around on the court, dribbling the ball like a pro!

Even the littleys enjoyed themselves!

The event was supported and funded by Sport Taranaki, and the Toi Foundation. TLC Meats graciously funded the players’ lunches. Flags representing New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Philippines, India, and China were provided by the Taranaki Multi Ethnic Council (TMEC) whose executive team helped in the promotion of the event amongst ethnic communities.

The opening of the event started with a karakia (prayer) by Hemi Haddon, Ngāti Ruanui, followed by a suitable welcome by MC Lwazi and the New Zealand National Anthem sung by Emilydel Julian, President of the Taranaki Filipino Society. Over 200 people attended, comprising 14 teams of enthusiastic participants and their supporters.

Opening karakia by Hemi Haddon, Ngāti Ruanui

Opening moments

A pre-competition aerobics warmup led by Lungelo started off the sports activities of the day, an indoor/outdoor event with football and food and coffee outside; and on the three indoor courts, basketball and volleyball. There were two competitive categories: Juniors (11-18 year-olds) and Senior teams (19 years and over).

Aerobics warmup to get started

Food and coffee!

In the corridor adjoining the courts there were several tables displaying merchandise, and the promise of entertainment for the little ones in the form of SB the magician. African tunes were reverberating throughout the hub which created a nice buzz along the loud noises of people competing and supporters cheering.

Merchandise stands

San Beda (SB) the magician

I asked co-founders Petunia Twala and Cheryl Mudawarima for their thoughts on this first-time sports event, and how Sisonke Taranaki African Community first came about.

Petunia: “Sisonke began last year in March when we were organising Africa Day for May 2023. Sisonke Taranaki African Community was finally established formally in August 2023, and officially registered as a Charitable Trust in May 2024. In February 2024 we had the African celebration of Nelson Mandela Day. Since governance in South Africa is different we were lucky to get advice from a more experienced local body such as TMEC who funded us for the celebration.

“In October this year we held a Women’s Conference. We wanted to make this accessible to everyone as an empowering conference for women who have just moved here. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Education talked about how to navigate the education system in New Zealand and we had a speaker from Carefirst talk about health. We also had a lawyer who talked about legal matters in New Zealand. The ACOFI (African Communities Forum Inc.) President Evelyn Parker and Secretary General Princess Mudekunye spoke about women’s empowerment, diversity of women in leadership, and Michelle Hardgrave, financial advisor, shared her knowledge and experience from many years working in the respective industry. The conference was also open to women who were born here in Aotearoa as ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’,” she says. There’s always something to learn.

“What sets us apart from the TMEC as an ethic organisation is, when thinking about events, we consult our people: what actually interests us, and what sponsorship do we need. The sports event came about, the health system came up, getting our youth involved, and our men as well. We do our very best to make every event accessible. We focus on the African community but if anyone wants to join, they can.

“My message is: Let’s not go out and compete but let’s all just get together. Because in all communities we may come from different backgrounds, religions and belief systems, however our struggles are the same. Our values are the same. So just getting together we have the ability to become stronger.

“I like the Māori whakataukī (proverb): ‘Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi‘ – ‘With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive‘. That’s the same with us. We have a similar whakataukī, an African proverb. So I believe we should be collaborating together.

“I came here a few years ago from South Africa with my husband who had a job offer in New Zealand. Taranaki is home to me now. It’s a special place,” Petunia says. “[Thinking back], I remember in 1995 when the All Blacks came to play against the Springboks. When Mandela walked out on that field wearing the Springboks jersey he had everybody just erupting, embracing and just forgetting your skin colour, my skin colour, but just having the common victory. That’s what brought us together and I think I kind of grew up in this set of precedent and culture in sports. It’s the only way how I know to bring people together.”

I begin to understand why sport is so important to the African community.

“I’d like to thank Sport Taranaki as well as Toi Foundation. This kaupapa (initiative) would have been impossible without them. We appreciate their support. With the funds we received from Sport Taranaki we were able to get transportation to bring teams here to compete and make this event accessible to the wider community. We wanted it to be for South Taranaki people to enjoy it but with the help we received we were able to get people from North Taranaki to come along.”

Cheryl adds: “It was such an exciting day. Initially we had few hiccups here and there because it was our first time. But I think the really exciting thing is having people and teams coming on board. I really appreciate the Taranaki Filipino Society Inc. Emily did an awesome job [singing the national anthem]. It brought quite a lot of tears really. Also the new guys who have come on board, they call themselves the Asian Group who have different nationalities including Indian. Also having the little children running around, it was so beautiful.

“There was the Filipino community and African community. Then we had the Samoan and Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui teams.

“It’s all about building relationships. One of the mums who is Māori told me she loves the way we bring people, different races, together. The children and all the people play together. It’s really something.

“Mostly I want to thank our Sisonke team; putting in the time and coming to help set up the event. Again I’d like to thank Emily for her beautiful singing. I’d also like to thank and acknowledge Hemi Haddon, Ngāti Ruanui, for the karakia. I love it. It’s all team work. Everyone has done such a good job.

“What I really like about Sisonke is, we bring peace together, so good.

“Sisonke aims to be impartial where politics and religion are concerned.

“We love to collaborate with other communities as our African community is still growing and hence it’s fun to engage with the others,” she says. “We were joined by Geetha and Narayanan Kutty from Migrant Connections Taranaki (MCT) and six other community groups (Japanese, Vietnamese, Argentinian, and Chinese) in 2023, who helped plan Heritage Day celebration. MCT also gave us initial funding and support for our first Africa Day in the same year.

“There are 55 countries in the African continent so we have a lot of diversity to share and celebrate with other communites in Taranaki. Sport is a great place to unite and build stronger relationships to do that.”

Here are some more snaps from a repeat-worthy event.