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This Website is about Traditional games in some selected African countries namely Ghana, Nigeria, Angola and Uganda.
BRIEF HISTORY OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL GAMES
Most African games emanated from the occupation of the African and as such were part of everyday life. Some of these occupations are fishing, farming, and hunting etc.The typical African games were not documented since they was not developed by any known person. But these games spread fast due to the nomadic nature of the African Family.
PERCEPTION OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL GAMES
In the pre-colonial era where the African lifestyle was basically about farming, gathering of food and wars. The African in that era perceived some of these minor games as recreation rather than exercise. After a long walk, the head of the family gathers his family after sunset and plays these games as a way of taking a rest. Games which are not very vigorous such as “Oware” in Ghana “Ayo” in Nigeria are normally played. The nature of these games did not require the use of the gross muscles and as such were not strenuous .
MODE OF PLAY
The African Traditional games in ancient times were played among members of the family, since most families were the nuclear type. This was also because most settlements were scattered. However in modern times most games are now organised in schools and on club bases
This is a picture of Morning Star School children in a typical Pilolo game.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Although most African games are not the vigorous type there are few which require the use of the gross muscles. “Atentam” in Ghana meaning wrestling is one of the major games played.
The games which required the use of gross muscles like “atentam”gives most Africans muscular strength and endurance. It also gives stamina or cardiovascular endurance since the game puts a lot of pressure on the heart. A game like “Pilolo” in Ghana requires running, seek to develop the muscles in the legs and also sprinting power (speed).Afican traditional games naturally relieves boredomness and makes the human being always sound and stress free.
However, there are some games which are not vigorous but seek to develop the intellectual capacity of the African. “Oware” in Ghana and “Ayo” in Nigeria which requires counting and other mathematical operation and other coordinated abilities which leads to sharpening of the brain. Generally these games relax the African after a hard days work.
Importance of games
