10 Traditional Sports in Ethiopia & More

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Ethiopia Games: 10 Traditional Sports in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, a country rich in culture and history, boasts a wide range of traditional sports that have been practiced for generations.

These sports not only provide entertainment but also promote physical fitness, social cohesion, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Here are ten traditional sports from Ethiopia:

1. Genna: Ethiopian hockey played during the Christmas season, with teams using wooden sticks to hit a small ball and score goals.
2. Yeferas Guks: Traditional Ethiopian wrestling style focused on strength, agility, and skill, with competitors trying to overpower each other in a circular ring.
3. Senbetu: A strategy-based board game where players move pieces on a board to capture opponents’ pieces.
4. Gugs: A ball game where participants keep a small ball made of animal skin in the air using various body parts.
5. Yegeter Lij: Played mainly by young boys, it involves knocking down a small object on a raised platform with long sticks.
6. Gobeta: A sport combining shot put and discus, where participants throw heavy objects for distance and accuracy.
7. Qarqacha: A stick-fighting game, where participants engage in mock combat using long sticks, testing agility and reflexes.
8. Yegena Atletica: Refers to Ethiopian athletics, especially long-distance running, which has brought international acclaim to Ethiopian athletes.
9. Teqayit: Traditional Ethiopian archery, where archers use bows and arrows to hit targets at varying distances.
10. Yemarqorete: A traditional tug-of-war game, where two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, testing strength and teamwork.

These traditional sports are just a glimpse into Ethiopia’s diverse sporting culture.

They reflect the country’s vibrant heritage, communal spirit, and the importance placed on physical prowess.

Participating in or witnessing these sports provides a unique opportunity to connect with Ethiopian traditions and experience the enthusiasm and skill that accompany them.

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Ethiopian Childhood Games: Segno Maksegno

Segno Maksegno or “Monday Tuesday” is a traditional Ethiopian game that is a variant of hopscotch.

One plays the game by first drawing lines on the ground, usually with chalk or just lines in the dirt. They are separated by approximately 40 cm.

Each box drawn represents a “home”, which can be appropriated as property with ownership.

The game begins by one person in a group throwing the first stone into the collection of “homes”.

The person will have to successfully jump through the collection of “homes” without touching the “home” with the stone.

If done properly, the same player will continue to go through all the “homes”, if still successful throughout they will be able to choose one of the “homes” to “own”.

Owning a “home” means that only that person can touch/jump on it, and no one else.

If one of the parts is divided in the middle, the person can jump with both feet, but if not, they have to use only one foot.

If a person cannot jump through the area, then they will have forfeited their turn and will start the next game.

If a person cannot throw the stone in the correct place, i.e. within the real estate, they too will have forfeited their turn.

The jumps made are two ways, they have to go forward and return, and owning a “house” means they can jump with one or two feet on it.

Owning a “house” also entitles the person to write their name or any other such sign they wish.

The game ends only when one of the players owns all the houses or when the positioning of the house ownership makes it impossible to jump successfully anymore.

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Akukulu Game

If you would like to know more about the Ethiopian game Akukulu, click here.

Ethiopian Traditional Games in Amharic PDF

I do not have a PDF version of Ethiopian traditional games in Amharic, but watch the video below for one such game.

Ethiopian Traditional Games in Amharic

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Traditional Games in Ethiopia PDF/Ethiopian Games PDF

How Many Traditional Games in Ethiopia Are There

There are over 293 registered traditional and cultural sports and games in Ethiopia.

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Olahraga Khas Ethiopia: Gena Ethiopian Traditional Game

Ethiopia Game of Cards

Gebeta Game Rules

The rules of Gebeta (the Ethiopian version of Mancala) are relatively simple but require strategic thinking.

Here’s an overview of how it’s typically played:

Game Setup

• The Gebeta board consists of two rows of six or more pits (also called “houses” or “holes”).
• Each player sits facing one row of pits. The player’s row is their own, while the opponent controls the other row.
• Initially, each pit is filled with an equal number of seeds or stones (usually 4 or more per pit, depending on regional variations).

Objective

• The goal of Gebeta is to capture more stones than your opponent by the end of the game.

Basic Rules

1. Starting the Game:

• One player begins by picking up all the stones from one of their pits.

2. Sowing:

• The player distributes the stones one by one into the following pits, moving in a counterclockwise direction around the board. This process is called “sowing.”
• If the player’s last stone lands in one of their own empty pits, they can capture all the stones from the opposite pit in the opponent’s row. These captured stones are placed in their “bank” or set aside as their winnings.

3. Turn Continuation:

• If the player’s last stone lands in a pit that contains other stones (after sowing), they pick up all the stones from that pit and continue sowing them.
• This continues until the last stone lands in an empty pit.

4. Ending the Game:

• The game ends when one player has no stones left in their row.
• The remaining stones on the board belong to the opponent.

5. Winning:

• The player who has captured the most stones by the end of the game wins.

Strategic Tips

• Players must think ahead and plan their moves, aiming to land their stones in an empty pit to capture stones from the opponent.
• Timing is critical; players often try to force their opponent into situations where they cannot make significant gains.

There may be slight variations in the rules depending on the region or how the game is traditionally played within a specific Ethiopian community, but the core principles remain the same.

Eritrean Traditional Games

Eritrean traditional games encompass a variety of activities that have been passed down through generations, reflecting the cultural heritage and values of Eritreans.

Here are some examples of traditional games played in Eritrea:

1. Gebeta: Gebeta is a traditional board game similar to chess or checkers. It is played on a wooden board with 37 holes arranged in a pattern. The objective is to capture your opponent’s pieces while protecting your own.
2. Idget: Idget is a game played with small stones or seeds. Players take turns picking up and dropping stones according to specific rules, aiming to clear the board or accumulate the most stones.
3. Qarqub: Qarqub is a game played with small stones or marbles, often in a circle drawn on the ground. Players take turns flicking their stones at a target stone or into a hole in the ground, earning points based on accuracy and technique.
4. Zerqer: Zerqer is a game similar to jacks, played with small objects like pebbles or seeds. Players toss a small ball into the air and attempt to pick up as many objects as possible before catching the ball.
5. Shimagle: Shimagle is a traditional stick fighting game. Participants use long sticks to strike each other’s sticks while trying to avoid being hit themselves. It requires agility, speed, and skill.

These games are not only sources of entertainment but also serve as ways to teach strategy, coordination, and social skills.

They are often played during holidays, festivals, and gatherings, providing opportunities for community bonding and cultural exchange.

List of Traditional Games in Ethiopia (Including Kukulu Ethiopian Game)

Here are some Ethiopian traditional games:

1. Gebeta – Gabata – Gebet’a (a mancala game)
2. Lamlameta (another mancala game)
3. Akukulu – Kukulu – Acoocoolu (a variant of hide-and-seek)
4. Demo – Pepsi
5. Segno Maksegno (a form of hopscotch)
6. Awo Aydelem
7. Kelebosh – Kilibosh – Handaie
8. Arenguade
9. Suzi
10. Leba ena Police
11. Teter
12. Biy

Photo Credits: AllAboutEthio