Monday, August 7, 2023

Exploring the Ancient Ballgame “Ulama”

Exploring the Ancient Ballgame “Ulama”

Walking around downtown Cancun, Mexico, we came upon a ballfield on which a group of men and boys with painted bodies and leather loincloths were playing a very odd game of ball. They hit a heavy rubber ball by bumping it with their hips.

We learned from a knowledgeable spectator that the game was Ulama, a descendant of a 3,500-year-old pre-Colombian game called Ullamaliztli that was popular among the Maya and the Aztec people. Today, Ulama is only practiced in four small towns of the state of Sinaloa in Mexico. But it’s making a comeback!

It was fascinating!

LINKS:

About Ulama
Ulama Making a Comeback
Map

No comments:

Post a Comment