Indigenous Games in Africa Project

 The game is called 1-2-3 Block. The game does not require any materials, but it does need a big space/ area in which to play it.  This game is similar to hide and seek but a bit more active and exciting.  Before the game begins all the players agree on an item to be the ‘blocking post’. This item must be relatively large and accessible from multiple directions e.g. a tree, chair, or part of a wall (etc.).  After this has been decided, a chosen ‘seeker’ must count to 50 with their eyes shut next to the ‘blocking post’ and everyone else hides. Once done counting, the person must try and find everyone BUT the game does not end when they are spotted… Rather, when spotted, both the hider and the seeker must run back to the ‘blocking post.’ If the hider gets to the post, touches it and shouts “1-2-3 Block” before the seeker, they are safe. But if the seeker gets there first and shouts “1-2-3 Block” then the hider has lost and will become the next seeker.  The game co...

a) What is needed to play (i.e. materials),  A ball and an open small field/court of a quadrilateral shape (dimensions/size of which depends on the intensity/competitiveness), several cans/tins of varying sizes, two teams of at least 2 members each. b)  How game is played One team is fielding, and the other plays The fielding team fields members on either ends of the field. Within the field, the playing team tries to stack the tins/cans into a stable tower while defending/dodging attacks from the fielding team throwing the ball at them and/or the tower they are trying to build from stacking the tins. If a playing member is hit with the ball, they are eliminated. If the tower is struck down, the playing team continues to rebuild their tower until all their members are eliminated or they progress to the next stage of the game.  The next stage of the game starts once the tower is stacked, the playing team goes behind the field lines and each member gets three/five shots to c...

What you need Two teams of 8 people (16 players) Chalk to draw circles A ball i)      Team One has the ball. They are trying to prevent Team Two from getting into the circles. Every circle counts 4 points. The total score a team must have is 24. Team Two must ensure the ball does not hit them while they try to get into the circles to make 24. If a team gets two 24, the players that were out because they got hit by the ball come back in and they play again until everyone is out. ii)      In order to win, players must run into the circles 6 times without getting hit by the other team with the ball. iii)      Rules are you cannot throw hard balls. You cannot hit someone with the ball if they are already in the circle. Both genders play the game. It is best played outside

Diketo is an indigenous game that can be played by one to 10 or more players. Players can be in teams or individuals. The games require a small hole dug on the ground or a circle or square shape drawn on a flat surface, pebbles or marbles (diketo). The number of pebbles may be decided by the players, however 10-20 pebbles each can be enough for a fun game. Additionally, each player requires one pebble/marble called Mokinto , which is usually slightly bigger than the other pebbles ( diketo ). Rules of the game Player who picks to be first will play first, those that picked 2nd will play second and so forth (picking who goes first is entirely up to the players, it is a first come first serve kind of thing. Players agree on the number of diketo each must have (all players should have the same amount of pebbles e.g 10 each) Players then agree which level (the level is called madis 1, madis 2 and so on) they want to have as the final stage to call it a game. It can be level 1-10 depending o...

The game is called “Three Tins”.  It is a traditional game played by children of both genders, anywhere outdoors - in the playground, the backyard, or even a park. One needs three tins and a homemade ball either with plastic or a cloth to play the game. The tins should be the same size, but it’s more fun to use different items like bottles, cans, tin cans, and so on. To start the game, one of the players from each team must throw the ball at the three tins and try to hit all three of them. If the player is successful, they must then rearrange the three tins as fast as they can. The first team to do this wins the game. The rules of the game are quite simple. In order for the team to win, all three tins must be arranged again as quickly as possible. All players must stay inside the designated area while playing. Moreover, the ball must stay in the same area; if it falls outside, the game must be paused and the ball returned to where it originally was. Finally, there must be a clear a...

All one needs to play this game is three wooden sticks and a flat surface – preferably a long stretch of road.  The structure and rules of the game are incredibly simple: We start by placing three sticks in a row – each horizontal to the long stretch of road and perhaps a metre apart. Taking turns each player runs and jumps over the sticks – RULE- when a player runs and jumps they may only take one step in the space between each stick. As each player takes a turn – the distance between the sticks is increased and once the distance between the sticks is too far  for a player to jump without taking more than one step between each stick – THEN that player is out. The player who is able to jump the furthest and clear the longest distance between each stick without extra steps wins the game.  Anyone or any gender and age can play the game but usually it was just the kids that lived on my street – boys and girls all between 5 and 8 years old.  Played on the street.

The game is played by children (girls and boys) outside on a field, using a ball (size ~ 8cm). At the start, one player (call them A) was ‘on’ and tried to throw the ball at other children who could run away. As soon as another player (B) was hit, she teamed up with A and the two of them tried to hit another player. The person with the ball was not allowed to run but everyone else was (e.g. A would stand still with the ball while B positioned herself  near another child, A would throw the ball to B and A was then free to run.) B could “sting” the third player (C), who then joined with A and B and the three of them tried to hit the other players.  This continued until there was only one player who had not been “stung” – She was the winner. 

In this game there are two groups of people. Each group has several people anywhere from 10 to 20 people. These two groups will stand opposite each other with 20 meters apart. This game also requires one ball that will be used by both groups.   To start, one member from each group will play rock, paper, scissor. This is to choose which team will have the ball first. Once this is decided. The team with the ball will allow one member to roll the ball and call out the name of one member from the team. That person, who’s name is called will have to kick the ball as far as possible and run to a marker that their opponent has set up. While this person is running the touch the marker, the opposite team will have to get the ball and try to throw the ball at the person. If the person is hit before they touch the marker, then they are out. However, if they make it to the marker, they will have to shout nikkies and they are safe. Once this happens, the opposite team will then take the ba...

Ugqaphu is played by children but also adults for fun using the rope that is made of grass. People choose the numbers from 1 to a certain number depending on the number of people, then the last two numbers will take the rope and shake it. One person gets in and jumps three times then out, immediately she or he gets out, another gets in fast, and so on. If the rope touches you go take the position of shaking the rope for that person you released and jump and there are songs sung while the person is jumping. This game is a kind of exercise because people are still doing it but in the gym, you can even play ugqaphu alone. 

a)  What does one need to play (i.e. materials) A stretchy rope tied as a loop (this rope can be made from old pairs of stockings that can be tied together to form a loop (oval shaped), two people as pillars. If there are no people, you can use two chars as pillars. b)    How is the game played? i) The game needs 2 pillars and at least one player known as the jumper. The jumper can be a group of 2 people, but can’t exceed this Two people stand as pillars at least a 1.5 distance from each other on both sides of the loop and the jumper has to hop in the rope without getting stuck, getting their foot caught and be able to untangle themselves. The first level: the pillars hold the loop on at the knees.  The second Level: the pillars hold the loop at the stomach.  The third level: the pillars hold the loop at the upper arms. The pillars sing the song that play hops too. There are various, and various communities have different songs. For example, one song I know ...

Name of the game: Wa-skida and flew   Materials: Just Focus  Game is normally played in South Africa as a focus game.  Number of Participants: Maximum 40 People.  The game requires participants to be standing in a circle.  Wa refers to putting your hands together to pass on the vibration in the circle to the person on your right.  Skida is to block the vibration and reverse the opposite direction.  Flew is sending the vibration to a participant opposite you.  The game starts slow and should get faster to test for focus.