Research Journal of Bakhtiari Studies and Iranian Ethnicities

Research Journal of Bakhtiari Studies and Iranian Ethnicities

Indigenous and Local Games: Mirrors of Identity, Culture, and History of an Ancient Land (A Case Study of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
ali hoseini
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran.
10.22034/bsriit.2026.15189.1044
Abstract
Under the assault of foreign cultures and the proliferation of digital games, the indigenous and local games of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province—those identity-forging mirrors of culture and history—are falling into oblivion. This research, employing a fieldwork-based and anthropological approach, seeks to answer the question of how these games, as truthful narrators, can unveil the hidden layers of the historical identity of an ancient land, and what strategies exist for their revival in the modern era. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, a region of deep antiquity and rich culture, harbors a valuable treasury of indigenous and local games, each recounting a narrative of the life, aspirations, and beliefs of the ancestors of this land. With the aim of introducing and documenting these forgotten rituals, this article examines the multiple functions of these games within the historical and cultural context of the region. From symbolic games tied to agricultural and pastoral rites to martial and performative contests that reflect ethnic valor and solidarity, all serve as mirrors reflecting the hidden layers of collective identity, value systems, and the lifeworld of the people of this ancient land. The findings of this research underscore the imperative of safeguarding this living heritage as an inseparable part of Iran's intangible cultural assets.
Keywords
Indigenous and local games
Identity
Culture
Ancient land

  • Receive Date 27 July 2026
  • Accept Date 05 August 2026