30 Seconds to revive Khoekhoegowab

In a world where indigenous languages often struggle to compete for young people’s attention, Mia Johanna Jacobs and Donald Jossob may have found a winning formula: learning through play.

What started as a simple idea inspired by the popular 30 Seconds board game has grown into a tool aimed at preserving Khoekhoegowab, celebrating culture and getting young people engaged in learning.

Created by Jacobs and Jossob, the Khoekhoegowab version of the game contains about 1 000 words and challenges players to describe a word without mentioning it or using gestures.

"The youth had no real space where they could express themselves, learn the language properly and have fun at the same time," Jacobs explained.

As a pilot project, five games will be distributed to schools in the south that offer Khoekhoegowab. Jacobs hopes the initiative will eventually expand throughout the //Kharas region and beyond.

"Due to limited funding, sponsorship would help us place the game in more schools," she said.

Helping compile and verify the word selection was Jossob, a Khoekhoegowab lecturer at the University of Namibia's southern campus.

Learning through play

The cards cover a wide range of topics, from everyday objects and phrases.

Words are divided into three categories: easy, medium and hard.

The easier level focuses on everyday communication and common objects. Medium-level words introduce general knowledge, including national heroes, sports personalities and other educational topics.

The more challenging cards delve into Nama history, clans, traditional knowledge and indigenous place names. "We have to teach young people about the history of Nama people, where they come from and the importance of understanding their heritage," Jossob explained.

The game's educational value became evident even during its development. Jacobs laughed as she recalled discovering unfamiliar words herself while testing the cards. "There are words on some of the cards that even I didn't know," she admitted. That unexpected learning experience is exactly what makes the game unique – and fun.

"We must first laugh at you before you finally get the word right," Jacobs joked.

Enthusiastic reception

The game was recently demonstrated at a youth bonfire gathering, where participants quickly embraced the concept.

The response was overwhelmingly positive.

"When people saw how it worked, the interest was immediate. Young people were eager to participate because they were learning the language through fun rather than seeing it as a difficult task," Jossob said, adding that the enthusiasm has already translated into sales.

"The games sold out very quickly," Jacobs added. "People from as far as Okahandja have already placed orders."

"Instead of focusing on what is being lost, we should create projects that actively involve young people and make learning enjoyable," Jossob said. He added that the game could also prove valuable for universities, language courses and cultural organisations looking for innovative teaching tools.

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