A quick trip down memory lane?
Childhood games for the 90s kids were really epic. They were motivation for most to quickly complete their house chores so they could be given permission to go play outside.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? We are not sure the “get inside” children can relate to everything on this list though 😌.
1. Tinko Tinko
Tinko tinko is a game of slapping palms and knuckles. It can be played by two or more people–mostly girls. The players clap their hands in a high-down manner.
This game requires speed and good mathematical skills as each tinko round increases by 1. The chant for the game goes thus: Tinko, Tinko, Tinkololotinko!
Whoever misses a step in the routine would automatically drop out of the game. The game continues till the last player standing is declared the winner.
2. The Name Game
The Name game used to set the genius standard. While there are many adaptations to this game, one thing is constant–it is a game of nouns.
The moderator calls the name of a noun like cars, places or animals. The players would then follow with names of noun within that class. This continues until someone is rendered speechless or repeats what someone else has said. Each player’s score is collated at the end of the last round and the person with the highest score is declared victorious.
The chant goes thus: Name name name or I call on.
3. Rolling Tyres
Rolling tyres was not exactly a ‘ladylike’ game but young boys sure had a field day playing this one.
The mysterious part about this game is how the players never seemed to run out of tyres. In fact, if you didn’t have one, the game legends would make it their life’s mission to help you get one.
The competition was in who could roll a tyre faster, execute cool moves or be the first to get to the finish line.
4. Who Is In The Garden?
This game was full of laughs and exercise. The players form a circle holding hands. The leader or moderator then stands outside this circle and sings the tune of this game. After every chant, someone is tapped and excused from the circle. The chant continues until there is only one person left standing and the person in the middle.
The chant of this game goes thus: Who is in the garden? A little fine girl. Can I come and see her? No, no, no! Follow me, little girl!
This game was so good that an African hairstyle has been named after it.
5. Police And Thief
To think most of us were using the judiciary system to play! It has come to bite us in the bum bum now 😭!
This game involved forming two teams–for the police and the thief. The police team would chase the thief and any thief caught would be disqualified.
However, a place nearby the playing area was tagged ile iba for refuge before the game starts. If a “thief” gets to the place of refuge before the police catch him, he has automatic immunity.
6. Swinging
Swinging, popularly called Jangilova by the real children of the streets, involves two players–the person sitting on the swing and the one pushing the swing.
Every time the swing comes back, the pusher sends the person sitting a bit higher, skyward. On and on it goes till the person sitting starts to hear heaven calling 🌚.
Swinging is an ageless game as most adults can still be seen at parks swinging gently as they reminisce about the good old days.
7. Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is a multiplayer game that has movies named after it. In this game, the seeker closes his or her eyes and counts to 10.
Afterwards, he asks, “ready?” Other players must have hidden somewhere from plain sight before the seeker says ready. The first person caught becomes the next seeker.
#TraditionalValues is a segment documenting the beauty of indigenous culture. This edition highlights seven childhood games relatable to the 90s kids.
