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Cultural Games in Ethiopia: Akukulu Game/Akukulu Ethiopian Traditional Game
This traditional Ethiopian game, usually played with about 6-15 people, is similar to hide-and-seek.
The game begins with one player in the group (the seeker) staring at a wall (known as his/her house, home base, or the Mariam), avoiding eye contact with the other players.
The others, in the meantime, have to find hiding places.
After a while, the seeker on the wall will begin to make the “coocoolu” sound, imitating the sound hens make in the morning.
The others attempting to hide will reply “alnegam” or it is not morning yet, implying that the hen (seeker) should not leave his/her house.
The seeker will continue to make the sound till everyone in the group trying to hide has hidden themselves and start to reply “nega” or the sun has risen.
At this point, the seeker will actively attempt to find those in the group that are now hidden.
In the meantime, the hidden have to make it stealthily to the seeker’s wall or “home” and place their hand on it and kiss their own hand. This makes them safe.
The seeker will have to find the hidden before they reach the wall, and call out their name and go to his wall “home” and touch the wall while kissing his hand.
If the seeker arrives before the hidden whose name was called out, then the hidden will be “captured”, and remain waiting at the seeker’s wall.
The winners are those that make it safely to the wall.
Gabata (also spelled “Gebeta”) is the generic term for mancala games played in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is used for many two-row games, but also for several three-rank mancala games.
Ethiopian Traditional Sports in Amharic
If you would like to know more about Ethiopian traditional sports in Amharic, click here.