Ethiopian games and how to play them.
Most kids in Ethiopia don't get the luxury to have cool toys like we do in the U.S. They mostly make them up with the little supplies they have or just their imagination. Here are some of the games they play and how to play them.
How to make the Ethiopian game Tegre:
Use a cardboard egg carton, which already has the 2 rows of 6 holes built-in. Paint it however you’d like. Once the paint has dried, cut off the top of the carton, and then cut it in half. Fasten it with glue or tape to the bottom of the egg carton (as seen in the top, right picture) so you have a section on either side of the game board, in order to collect the seeds from your opponent. If you want to practice against a computer, try this on-line Mancala game- it is fun and builds strategic skills with 3 difficulty levels
How to play Tegre:
Each player starts by choosing a hole on his side, and picking up all of the seeds in that hole. Then, moving in a counterclockwise direction, he/she should deposit them one by one in the following holes (as if taking a lap around the holes). This player continues to pick up seeds and place them in holes until the last seed goes into an emptyhole.
When the last seed of the turn is placed into an empty hole, there are 3 possibilities. 1) If the hole is on your opponent’s side, the turn is over. 2) If the empty hole is on your side, and the opposite hole is empty, the turn is over. 3) If the empty hole is on your side, but the opposite cup has some seeds in it- you get to capture the seeds and place them in your pit to the right.
The whole game ends when one row is empty!
When the last seed of the turn is placed into an empty hole, there are 3 possibilities. 1) If the hole is on your opponent’s side, the turn is over. 2) If the empty hole is on your side, and the opposite hole is empty, the turn is over. 3) If the empty hole is on your side, but the opposite cup has some seeds in it- you get to capture the seeds and place them in your pit to the right.
The whole game ends when one row is empty!
How to play Kebeto:
This game is played with at least 4 children who form a circle. A child is chosen to be the belt passer. The belt passer is the person who hides a belt behind one of the children in the circle. The belt passer has to do this discretly so he or she is not caught. If the belt passer is caught, the child who the belt was laid behind tries to run after the belt passer. Like the game "Duck-duck-goose", the belt passer has to make back to an open spot in the circle before he is caught.
How to play Kukulu:
Before the game begins, a place must be chosen to be the home base of the game. This place is called the Mariam. Six to fifteen children can play this game. This game is very much like the American version of hide and seek. Before the play begins, one person is chosen to say "Kukulu". Once the child says Kukulu in the chosen spot (Mariam), the other children hide for a certain amount of time. Once the chosen child explores for the hidden children the boys and girls try to run back to the Mariam without being caught by the chosen one. Those who are not caught are the winners.
Awo and Aydelem:
This is a very popular mind game played by both children and adults. Many people can play, as long as one person is chosen to be a questioner. The questioner must try to make everyone else say "yes". If the person says "Yes", he loses. To do this, he may ask any kind of question. This game is very much like "Simon says" because it takes alot of focus not to lose.