Yard games
Eré of each tongue.
Not one generic game painted over every language. Ayọ̀, Okwe, Dara, Bao, Adji — and the counting, hop, find, and clap of the yard.
Yoruba Igbo Hausa Ogu (Egun) Swahili Spanish French Arabic Portuguese
Playable
Ayọ̀
The seed board (mancala)
Drop seeds from house to house. Count in Yoruba as you go. Be kind when you win.
Playable
Ònkà
Counting
Hear the number. See the trick. Tap the count. Stars go in the pouch.
Playable
Bojúbojú
Peek / hide the face
Count to ẹ̀wá. Then tap the face that hid. Three finds, then stars.
Playable
Sùwẹ̀
Hopscotch
Tap the boxes in order. Say the Yoruba number as you land. Miss, start again.
Playable
Ten-ten
Clap-and-step
Hear the number. Clap that many times. Keep the beat with an adult.
Yard later
Òkòtó
Spinning top
If you have a top at home, spin it and say yí (spin). Count while it turns.
Yard later
Ìjákulẹ̀
Skipping rope
Ask an adult to turn a rope. Count ọ̀kan, èjì, ẹ̀ta as you jump.
Yard later
Arín
Marbles
Share marbles. No grabbing. That is ìwà rere.
Yard later
Dúdú-funfun
Dark and light (odds)
An adult hides ìyọ̀ (beans). You guess èjì or ẹ̀ta.
Yard later
Òwìrí
Thread / cat’s cradle
A loop of yarn and two pairs of hands. Ask grandma the pattern she knows.