This entry is for our grandkids, who ask what toys the children in Ghana play with and what their favorite games are. A simple game, called
Ampe, is played with four or more children. There is a lot of clapping, singing, and jumping involved. It almost looks like a dance.
Mancala is believed to be the oldest game in the world and is still played throughout Africa. In Ghana it is called
Oware. Shallow holes, arranged in two or four rows, are dug out of a small, slender board. At home, our family uses marbles with this game, but Ghanaians use small stones or seeds. If toys are not available, the children use their wonderful imaginations and available resources to entertain themselves. Here are just a few examples.
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This old tree is just begging for a climb.
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Bamboo, a gourd, a stick and a nail make a great car.
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| Soccer is a favorite sport..... | .....and provides good exercise. |
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| No ball? Grab an orange! | The game is played with skill and abandon. |
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| It's called "football" in Africa..... | .....a passion shared by all. |
And we found a group of young students in Accra, with their volunteer teachers from Europe, thoroughly entertaining themselves in the school yard with this simple game.
