IP and the Future of Indigenous Sports: From Ancestral Games to Global Arenas

As the world marks World Intellectual Property Day 2026, with its focus on IP and the sports industry, this special episode takes the conversation beyond mainstream sports and into a space that is often overlooked; indigenous sports and cultural heritage.

Across the globe, traditional sporting practices have long served as more than just recreation. In Nigeria, games like Ayo and combat traditions like Dambe reflect deep cultural identity and communal knowledge systems. Similarly, in India, sports such as Kabaddi have evolved from local traditions into commercially viable global leagues. In South Africa, indigenous games like Morabaraba continue to hold cultural and social significance while gaining broader recognition.

Yet, despite their value, these indigenous sporting expressions exist in a complex legal space. Can they be protected under conventional intellectual property frameworks? Or do they require entirely new systems that better reflect their collective ownership and cultural significance?

In this episode, the host is joined by two distinguished guests: Shraddha Pandit from India and Sphesihle Thusini from South Africa. Together, they explore how different jurisdictions are approaching the intersection of IP and indigenous knowledge highlighting both progress and persistent gaps.

The episode also tackles key questions such as ownership ond preservation of cultural heritage whilst effectively commercializing and protecting indigenous sports within the IP system.

At its core, this conversation challenges us to rethink how we define value in the sports industry not just in economic terms, but in cultural and social significance.

As indigenous sports continue to gain visibility in a globalized world, the need to protect them while ensuring that originating communities benefit has never been more urgent.

🎧 Tune in to explore how law, culture, and sport intersect and why it matters for the future of intellectual property.