This post is about sports and traditional games in Kenya.
READ ALSO: Final Thoughts on Traditional Sports in Kenya & More
Table of Contents
4 Traditional Kenyan Games
Some of the traditional games and sports in Kenya since antiquity have included wrestling, racing exercises, stick fights, hunting (using spears and arrows), board games, bull fights and dances.
Read on to find out more about traditional games and sports in Kenya.
READ ALSO: Bridal Shower Gifts South Africa & More
Kenyan Indigenous Games #1: Bullfighting in Kenya
Bullfighting is prevalent among the Luhya community of western Kenya.
The sport was originally practiced to mark key events in the community, such as funerals.
However, the sport has evolved to become more competitive, and is a source of income on occasion.
The lovers of this sport have vowed to ensure that this treasured traditional sport lives on.
Kenyan bull owners have formed an association, and this has led to the establishment of a stadium in Ikolomani constituency for bullfighting called Malinya Stadium.
READ ALSO: 10 Traditional Sports in Ethiopia & More
Bullfighting events are usually held on Saturdays and public holidays.
The bulls that participate in the fights are usually prepared by keeping them in zero-grazing situations and isolating them from other cattle so that they can become wild.
They are also given a balanced diet.
On the eve of a bullfighting event in western Kenya, the competing bulls are usually given a local brew known as busaa so that they become aggressive during the bullfight.
READ ALSO: Places to Visit in Nanyuki & Fairmont Mara Safari Club Nanyuki
Traditional Game Kenya #2: Board Games (Bao)
Bao is an ancient mancala board game played by the Swahili community in Kenya and Tanzania.
Bao is the Swahili word for board or board game.
A person who masters bao well is referred to as bingwa (master) or fundi (technician).
Bao is still popular today at the Kenyan coast, especially in Lamu, where bao tournaments are held regularly.
These bao tournaments may not be popular enough to get listed on platforms such as Betway, but they attract considerable attention.
READ ALSO: Is Red7 a Card Game Suitable for Kids Too? & More
Bao usually attracts scholars because of the strategic and complex thinking required to win the game.
Scholars of disciplines such as psychology, complexity theory, and game theory are fascinated by bao.
Kenyan communities, other than the Swahili, also have their own versions of bao, including the Turkana, Luhya, Luo, and Samburu.
Traditional Kenyan Games #3: Wrestling (Enyameni, Ndikano)
A number of communities in Kenya practice traditional wrestling, including the Abagusii where it is known as enyameni and the Ameru where it is called ndikano.
Generally, these games feature two strong (preferably married) men, aged between 25 and 45 years.
These men battle it out in an open field with a charged crowd cheering them on.
Winning the game requires a combination of both strength and strategy. He who fells his opponent is declared the winner.
These traditional forms of wrestling risk losing their significance as people shift their interest towards foreign forms of wrestling.
Traditional Sports Examples #4: Stick Fights
You will find some sort of stick fighting among several different communities in Kenya, especially herding ones.
The sport is also very popular in Lamu on the Kenyan coast.
If you visit Lamu, you will often find crowds enjoying a stick fight at the waterfront.
This form of stick fighting is believed to have originated from Oman, which has historical ties with Lamu that stretch back more than a century.
Indigenous Tagging Games Played in Kenya
Indigenous tagging games in Kenya, like in many cultures, are traditional games that have been passed down through generations.
These games often reflect the community’s way of life, social structures, and environment. Here are a few examples:
1. Kati (or Kati-Kati)
- Description: Kati is a popular game among children in Kenya, particularly among the Kikuyu community. It involves two teams, with one team standing in the middle while the other team stands at opposite ends of the playing area. The goal is for the players in the middle to avoid being hit by a ball that the players on the ends throw at them. If a player in the middle is hit by the ball, they are out. The game continues until all players in the middle are hit, after which the teams switch roles.
- Objective: The main objective is to avoid getting tagged by the ball while trying to stay in the game as long as possible.
2. Shake (or Shake-Shake)
- Description: Shake is another traditional Kenyan game, often played by children in rural areas. In this game, one player is “it” and must chase and tag the other players. However, the players can find safety by standing still and chanting “Shake, shake, shake,” or a similar phrase, making them immune to being tagged for a short time. The “it” player must then find another target to chase.
- Objective: The goal is to avoid being tagged by finding safety in time or by outmaneuvering the “it” player.
3. Mbweha na Kuku (Fox and Chickens)
- Description: This game involves one player taking on the role of the “fox” while the others are “chickens.” The chickens line up behind their leader, holding onto each other’s waists. The fox tries to catch the last chicken in the line while the leader moves the group around to avoid being caught. If the fox succeeds, the last chicken is out, and the game continues until all chickens are caught.
- Objective: The main goal is for the fox to tag all the chickens while the chickens try to avoid getting caught.
These games are not only a form of entertainment but also play an essential role in socialization, teaching children about teamwork, strategy, and agility. They are often played during school breaks, after chores, or during community gatherings.
Photo Credits: FIFPRO, Washington Examiner, The Elephant, Eric Lafforgue, FurnitureAndDecorNY, Discover Walks Blog