Hobbies And Interests
Kigogo Game
For a traditional Kenyan game, try Kigogo, or Mancala as it is called in the United States. Kigogo sets are available in toy and game stores, but you can also make your own using household items. To make a Kigogo board, you will need an empty egg carton with the lid removed, as well as two extra empty egg compartments that can be cut from another empty carton. You will also need 48 dried beans to use as markers or pieces. Use the extra empty egg compartments to tape to the middle of each end of the egg carton. Those will be the Mancalas where each player will place his pieces. Paint the finished playing board and allow drying time. Two players can play at a time, and they should sit across from one another, using the Mancala to their right as a place to store their pieces. Before starting, place four dried beans into each of the 12 egg compartments, leaving the mancalas on the end empty. The first player takes four of the beans from a cup on her own side and drops one into each of the compartments, moving counterclockwise until the pieces run out. If your last piece falls into your mancala, you get another turn. If your last piece falls into an empty cup, you get to place it and the contents of the cup across from it into your mancala. Always skip over your opponent's mancala. The player with the most pieces at the end wins.
Swahili Memory
Although many Kenyans use their own tribal languages to converse, the two official languages of Kenya are English and Swahili. Make a simple memory game to help students learn some common Swahili vocabulary words and phrases. Using index cards, write a Swahili word on one side of a card. On another card, write the corresponding English definition. It is up to you to decide how many words and phrases you want to include, but have an equal amount of matches for the English and Swahili words. Lay the cards out in a square or rectangular formation with the words facing down. Groups of two or three students can take turns trying to make matches. If a student makes a match, she gets another turn. The student with the most matches at the end wins.
Kenyan Musical Chairs
This activity takes a Kenyan spin on traditional musical chairs. Put chairs in a circle with the seats facing out and the backs facing the inside of the circle. Remember to place one less chair than the number of players. Play some traditional Kenyan music and have the students walk in a circle around the chairs. When you stop the music, each child must scramble to find a seat. The child who remains standing is out, and one more chair must be removed from the circle. Repeat this process until there is only one chair and two players. The person who sits down in the last seat wins the game.