Afrocentric recreational participation patterns of rural-based adults in South Africa: An systematic review

Afrocentric recreational participation patterns among rural-based adults in South African social systems are complex and deeply embedded within all the social institutions. The core principles of recreational participation are neglected within those structures, which undermines the intended roles of recreation within the broader social ecosystem. The purpose of this systematic review is to critique and synthesize existing literature on the Afrocentric recreational participation patterns of rural-based adults in South Africa. A literature search was conducted across multiple databases, which include PubMed, Google Scholar, AJOL, Scopus, and CINAHL for studies published between 2015 and 2025 academic year. This review is in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines for systematic review. A total of 68,188 studies were initially identified and screened according to the inclusion criteria. ultimately, 41 peer-reviewed studies were systematically reviewed and synthesized. The findings reveal age- and gender-based disparities among participants' Afrocentric recreational participation patterns. Male participants aged 45-50 years have predominantly engaged in agricultural recreational activities such as agritourism and afritainment, spending 3-4 hours once or twice a week. In contrast, female participants focused on passive domestic recreational activities, spending 4-5 hours daily. The literature further shows that both genders participated in digital recreational activities, including social media, music, and television, with males spending 1-2 hours daily. Although there is a common set of recreational activities, the frequency and duration of participation vary across different social systems. The study recommends integrating the principles of recreational participation into existing recreational structures to maximise the positive health and social outcomes of the Afrocentric recreational activities