Traditional Sport stands high among the rich and varied cultural heritages of Ethiopia. Although difficult to trace its origin, Traditional sport existed since many years back. Today a number of these games are practiced in the various regions of Ethiopia among which are Gebeta, Genna, Feres Gugs and Tigil.

“Gebeta” – the pit and pebble game – is, generally speaking, a “board” game. It is played in hollows scooped in the ground or carved in rock, or on a long wooden board. It is said that it was a favorite pastime for Ethiopians of the sixth century. it is played during wedding ceremonies and at harvest time, and in the south of Ethiopia, after circumcision rites. The game is played by elderly men and children. It is rarely played by women and hardly ever by women and men together.

“Genna”- a cricket – resembling game, is played by the various Ethiopian nationalities irrespective of religion.

The game was frequented by the northern Ethiopian Nationalities such as Amharas, Tigrai, Agaw and others before the strengthening of Menilik’s Dynasty. Thereafter, the game became popular in the southern regions too. The game is played by elderly men and women as well as children. The players start the game by encircling the field, two captains meeting at center of the field where the ball is buried, and touch sticks three times. The teams can either be from different villages or a village. The genna – stick is a hockey – resembling stick made of bent tree branches and hardened by fire.

“Feres Gugs” is an exciting game and is exclusive to Ethiopia. It demands skilled horsemanship on brave tough ponies. The word “gugs” itself comes from a man who is a great and fast rider and is able not only to protect himself from, but also inflict injury on his enemy. The game is probably as old as the original horses in Ethiopia, who were, in the absence of the wheel, merely a means of transport. They were supposed to have been imported by the Oromo tribes several centuries ago from the south, who amazed the resident highland Ethiopians with their powers on horseback and very shortly convinced them that mounted warriors were considerably better off in battle than the ordinary foot soldier.

“Tigil” or wrestling existed since time immemorial and at all stages of their youth men have played and fought together matching strength against strength. In Ethiopia this sport gained popularity during the region of Emperor Theodros when the emperor invited some Britishers to try the strength of some of his men.

In the countryside, the young males are paired off more or less according to age and strength, but more often one village against another. Fights are usually held near a village, after the harvest and the stocking of the grain, but before the threshing and winnowing. Soft grass or hay is strewn on the ground. He who falls first loses points, and the combatants literally carry on until forced to retire through exhaustion.