Athletes from all over Africa pour into Mombasa for 2017 Unity Games

Between 13 – 16 April, more than 700 Ismaili athletes from all over Africa will compete in 19 sports, and will be cheered on by hundreds of fans travelling to Mombasa from their home countries. The Unity Games will also host a series of non-sporting events, bringing the community together as one united African Jamat.

Ismailis from the Malagasy Republic arrive in Mombasa for the Africa-wide Unity Games, which will run from 13 - 16 April 2017. Ismaili Council for Kenya

Mombasa, 13 April 2017 — Every two years, the Ismaili communities of East Africa come together for the Unity Games, a festival of sport. This year, the Games will include Jamats from all over the entire African continent.

Between 13 – 16 April, more than 700 Ismaili athletes will compete in 19 sports, and will be cheered on by hundreds of fans travelling to Mombasa from their home countries of Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The Unity Games will also host a series of non-sporting events, bringing the community together as one united African Jamat.

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Unity Games Kenya 2017 opens with fanfare and excitement

The first ever all-Africa Unity Games commenced with energy, excitement and fanfare at Mombasa’s Aga Khan Academy. The Kenyan and Ismaili flags, along with the Aga Khan Band Mombasa, led a procession of athletes representing 11 teams.

The Aga Khan Band Mombasa at the opening of the 2017 Africa Unity Games.

The first ever all-Africa Unity Games commenced with energy, excitement and fanfare at Mombasa’s Aga Khan Academy. The Kenyan and Ismaili flags, along with the Aga Khan Band Mombasa, led a procession of athletes representing 11 teams organised around major city and regional centres of Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nairobi, Zanzibar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Uganda.

The Jamats of all nationalities were welcomed by the President of the Ismaili Council for Kenya, Nawaaz Gulam and the Chairman of the Council’s Mombasa Committee, Aman Kurji. They reminded all those gathered of the spirit of the Unity Games and the unity of our global Jamat.

Representative athletes, referees and regional team coordinators took an oath on behalf of all their teams to abide by the ethics of Islam, which guide the Games.

Acrobats entertained the audience, and the event ended with the symbolic lighting of the Unity Games Torch. The flame had journeyed to the major Jamati centres across the continent, exploring the richness and diversity of the countries we all hail from on this beautiful continent.

Sports also commenced, and athletes played with vigour and passion. We look forward to some great Games ahead!