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
Okwe
The seed board
Drop seeds house to house. Say otu, abụọ, atọ as you go.
Playable
Ịgụ ọnụ
Counting
Hear the number. Tap the Igbo word. Stars go in the pouch.
Playable
Nchọ nchọ
Hide and seek
Count to iri. Then tap the face that hid.
Playable
Ịgba ụkwụ
Hopscotch
Tap the boxes in order. Say the Igbo number as you land.
Playable
Ịkụ aka
Clap game
Hear the number. Clap that many times.
Yard later
Ịgba ụdọ
Skipping rope
Ask an adult to turn a rope. Count otu, abụọ, atọ as you jump.
Yard later
Ịtụ ọkpụkpụ
Marbles
Share marbles. No grabbing.
Yard later
Ịtụ ịtụ
Spinning top
If you have a top, spin it and count while it turns.
Yard later
Egwu ọnwa
Moonlight play
Ask an elder the moonlight game they knew. Play it in the yard, not only on a screen.
Yard later
Eriri
Thread / cat’s cradle
A loop of yarn and two pairs of hands.