Traditional Sport of the Ñuu Savi Indigenous Community: Seku Still Thrives Among the Living
By Veronica Aguilar (Ñuu Savi, CS Staff)
A fiery orb dances across the barren terrain beneath the veil of night's first stars. A strike changes its course, rekindling its inferno. We observe, captivated by the luminescent trail it leaves as it coasts along the ground. Shouts pierce the air, a teammate cheering, another demanding the ball, another advising the best throw. The crowd's cries echo the players'. Skirmishes are common, a seku might catch a player on the shins, the ball could singe their skin, a stumble might send them tumbling amongst the rocks. Some may view it as a perilous game, but in the Ñuu Savi communities where it thrives, we cherish its vibrant spirit and unique essence, a rarity amongst other sports.
The game is known as seku, a name derived from the twisted club used to strike the ball. A sturdy branch from native trees like the tuntoko or tuiñu is carefully selected and shaped, then left to bake in the sun for days before the match. Importance is placed on tailoring the seku to the player's height and strength; it's crucial for it to reach their waist and permit long periods of running while chasing the ball.
The ball demands its own preparation: trunks from the tusava tree, whose red blooms feed hummingbirds in the dry season, are harvested and dried. The spongy and porous wood helps create balls that burn slowly and maintain their flame.
The playing field can be found anywhere a flat expanse is available. Plains are chosen for their openness, a necessity within the mountainous landscape. Apart from the requirement of a level surface, the size of the field is left to the players and organizers to decide. There are no standardized measurements, as tradition favors flexibility over regulations. Not long ago, groups of children would play seku in an open plain while tending to their flocks.
Before a round of seku begins, a ritual is performed to honor the earth and pray for safety. Mezcal is poured on and around the field, and a fire is lit from which the balls are ignited. Balls are exchanged as needed, lost, or destroyed, to maintain a viable number for play. The game commences with the lighting of a ball in the center of the field; the players then rush forward to claim it and race towards the opposing goal.
Omar Aguilar Sánchez, an archaeologist of Ñuu Savi, suggested that seku may have held spiritual significance, especially in its use of fire. However, the reasons and history behind this practice remain unclear. Currently, seku serves as a sport, often played during festive gatherings in many of the communities of San Juan Mixtepec, Oaxaca. It's also popular in Teposcolula and Tamazulapam, and rumors suggest the Purepecha brothers possess a similar game.
There is a concern that seku's existence is at risk due to the distances separating the regions where it's played. Its popularity in San Juan Mixtepec has led to the promotion of tournaments with prizes, keeping the tradition alive and encouraging its growth across generations. May seku resist the tides of colonization and enrich the lives of the Ñuu Savi community for years to come.
Football shares a captivating spirit with the traditional game of seku, which thrives in the Ñuu Savi communities. The crowds' cries during seku echo those of football fans, although seku's unique elements, like the burning balls, set it apart from other sports.
