This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on the traditional Ghanaian children's game called "Ampe".
Part I presents information about the Ghanaian children's game "Ampe".
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/06/seven-videos-of-ghanaian-childrens-game.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases seven videos of the Ghanaian children's game "Ampe".
The content of this post is presented for cultural and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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ARTICLE EXCERPTS THAT INCLUDE COMMENTS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AMPE
(These excerpts are numbered for referencing purposes only).
EXCERPT #1
From https://rafiufishbone.blogspot.com/2015/08/ampe-beautiful-african-game.html AMPE '' A BEAUTIFUL AFRICAN GAME By Unknown - August 18, 2015
"Ampe is a game played long before anyone can remember,Since African history has not been put on paper and pen due to lack of formal education back in the centuries no one can really tell the exact origin of ampe. So its history remains a mystry but ampe is still the game little girls love to play when they have nothing to do...The game has been in existence for more Than 200years.
African children play this game during their childhood to teen age. Some believe it originate in Ghana. Elders in the northern part of Ghana believe that people of the ashanti region developed/created ampe. They say the game was played by old women, when they had nothing doing. They form a round circle, then pick a leader to be in the middle. They jump and clap their hands at the same time and put forward their legs. If both the leader and the one she picks to begin the game put forward their right leg at the same time then the leader has lost, if she loses for the second and third then she joins the circle and the winner becomes the new leader. But if the leader put forward her right leg and the other put forward her left leg that means the leader has won. Even though 10 pple can play ampe But its been play by two persons at a time. The game is been played by girls but sometimes boys do join because is very interesting and entertaining. Moreover is a form of exercise and keeps the brain and eyes sharp and active. Mostly is a game played at home but because it has been the most loved games among little girls, ampe is seen played in primary schools across Ghana and the world."
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EXCERPT #2
From https://mmofraghana.org/interesting-finds/world-games-ampe/ World Games – Ampe!
Posted by: Adwoa on 30 November 2011
“Tim Hull‘s wonderful videos on children’s games from different countries were made to support the work of the international play organization Right To Play.
Ampe is still a very popular game for girls (and a few boys too) everywhere in Ghana. It’s a combination of a good physical workout, social bonding and strategy.
In addition to his short film (about 15 minutes) on the energetic Ghanaian game of ampe (AM-pay), Tim’s Globaltimoto journey in search of games around the world showcases children at play in other African countries like Morocco, Namibia and Mali.
Detailed notes on the game are here. The film is particularly interesting because it includes an oral history of the game....
It includes an explanation of the rules, some strategies for winning, and a demonstration which ends with 15 year-old Sandra Ampofoah of Mampong-Akuapem emerging as the excited overall champion.
Sandra explains that it’s a matter of studying patterns of play, anticipating your opponent, making snap decisions and having very quick reflexes.
100 year-old Madam Rose Animah and 88 year-old Madam Elizabeth Kyei are the real stars of the film. They relive their glory days as champions of the game when it was a serious competitive sport between the ampe “companies” of several villages.
In the “old days”, crowds of spectators would come to watch the tournaments, which could go on for as long as two or three days. There was even a special dress code, designed to give plenty of room for jumping and throwing out your feet!*
Today ampe is a schoolyard and children’s playground activity rather than a community event, but it has survived, unlike many of the “ancient games” lamented by Rose Animah and Elizabeth Kyei."
-snip-
A link to Tim Hull's short film about Ampe is given as Video #1 in Part II of this series.
Here's a quote about the style of dress that was used for Ampe from Tim Hull's globaltimoto.com site that is mentioned in the above article: https://www.globaltimoto.com/africa/ghana/games/ampe/
"The style of clothes is very important to the game of Ampe. Most important of all is that each girl should wear a short and tight skirt facilitating the necessary movement of the legs. This style of dress carries with it a chant from spectators "Okpeng" (Short) to which the participating girls would cheer "Odadwee" (Tight). It's obviously not only the game of Ampe that drew young men to these events, but also the girls' daring fashion."
-snip-
The statement about "studying patterns of play, anticipating your opponent, etc. made me think of the comment from a narrator of "Ampe (a ghanaian children's game)", one of the video's that is showcased in Part II of this pancocojams series. In that video the narrator indicated that Ampe is similar to the hand game "rock, paper, scissors". Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia article for this game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock%E2%80%93paper%E2%80%93scissors
"Rock–paper–scissors (also known as scissors–rock–paper or other variants) is a hand game usually played between two people, in which each player simultaneously forms one of three shapes with an outstretched hand. These shapes are "rock" (a closed fist), "paper" (a flat hand), and "scissors" (a fist with the index finger and middle finger extended, forming a V). "Scissors" is identical to the two-fingered V sign (also indicating "victory" or "peace") except that it is pointed horizontally instead of being held upright in the air. A simultaneous, zero-sum game, it has only two possible outcomes: a draw, or a win for one player and a loss for the other.
[...] [explanations about which formations win over others]
[...]
Unlike truly random selection methods, however, rock–paper–scissors can be played with a degree of skill by recognizing and exploiting non-random behavior in opponents.[5][6]"
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EXCERPT #3
From https://gijonlinenews.com/?p=3086
The Decline of Traditional Games BY: OWUSU OFOSU-HEMAA EFUA ZION, July 19, 2016
“Once in Ghana were ampe, pampanaa, oware, pempenaa, pi lolo, alikoto, Zanzama, sansankroma, kyemper, Adwoa Ata and many others so dear to our hearts. Traditional games, in past times were held in high esteem by both the aged and the young in our society. These games, one would note, are gradually on the decline.
Attributed to civilization or modernization, these global phenomenon play a fundamental role in seperating our traditional society from its traditional games. These games gave us a sense of identification and belonging. Aside the eductative aspect these games offered, they also played the role of reuniting familes.
They were a great source of entertainment, self-expression and cooperation.
These same games since time immemorial have developed skills in solving real world problems while providing the opportunity to communicate face-to-face with team players. Helping to hone social skills, individuals were able to familiarize themselves with their environment and interact properly with others.
Pampanaa for instance helped us develop our navigational skills as one either searched for or hid from his/her opponent. Police and thief, imbibed in us a sense of accepted moral standards in society by shaming crime, and on the other hand celebrating justice.
Countless people may argue on the importance of modern games. In a way, it is understandable in the sense that, times have changed unlike the past where murder, kidnap, rape, rituals etc. were not common in our Ghanaian society. Parents would not like to take chances letting their children out to play with friends but rather stick to modern games on consoles, computers or other devices right at home. The security of children is essential to parents.
Modern games such as Clash of Clans, candy crush, pokémon, criminal case, temple run, fruit ninja and many others are the order of the day. The disadvantages are also countless. Children are exposed to unacceptable social vices and acts such as sexual abuses, crime, deceit and violence.
Parents should be mindful of how they go about blending modern games with traditional ones bearing in mind the role to media plays in shaping human behaviour and perception.”
Nine commenters shared their memories of some of the traditional Ghanaian games that are mentioned in this article, including this comment about ampe:
EUNICE OSEI [no date given]
"I enjoyed Ampe but sadly we don’t see it any more. It was best played with a group of four and more or just two people. It requires very active players with much jumping, singing and clapping. Two leaders are chosen for each group and the rest of the members split into groups of two and play against each other. Points are earned depending on the right or left leg, but always meet the opposite leg of your opponent first. I wish we could still maintain our traditional games instead of modern games."
-snip-
The only ”modern” games that I’ve* heard of that are mentioned in this article are “candy crush” and “Pokémon”. I’m African American and these other “modern games” may not be from the USA or known in the USA
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OTHER ARTICLE EXCERPTS ABOUT AMPE
(These excerpts are numbered for referencing purposes only).
EXCERPT #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampe_(game)
Ampe is a simple but energy-driven game played by school-age children. It originated from Ghana and also played in other neighbouring countries. It is played by two or more people and requires no equipment.[1][2]
Gameplay
The leader and another player jump up at the same time, clap, and thrust one foot forward when they jump up. If the leader and the other player have the same foot forward the leader wins a point. If they are different than the other player becomes "it" and plays against the remaining players. If the players are in a circle, the leader moves along the inside of the circle, playing against others in turn. If they are in a line, the leader moves on down the line. If only two players are playing, they keep score until a certain number of points determines a winner.[3]”...
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EXCERPT #2:
From https://aroundtheworldactivities.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/ampe-ghana/ Ampe – Ghana
27, JAN, 2013 by aroundtheworldactivities
"Name of Game: Ampe
Age Required to Play Game: 8 to 12
Country Origin: Ghana
Fun Facts: It’s a game that helps with coordination and agility.
Materials Needed: Body
Rules:
Chose one player to be the leader and the others to stand in a semicircle, with the leader facing the player at either end of the group.
The leader and the player both clap hands. Then they jump in place at the same time. They then jump and thrust one foot forward.
If the two have the same foot forward, the leader is out and the player takes their place. If they thrust a different foot forward, the leader moves on to the next player and the same routine begins.
A point is scored every time the leader is successful. Every player takes a turn as leader. The one who scores the most points wins."
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EXCERPT #3:
From http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/other_games/ampe.htm
"This challenging game is from Ghana
Usually two people are involved. It could also be two teams of more than two in a team. The players or teams are identified as “Ohyiwa” and “opare”. "Ohyiwa" scores a point when a player’s left leg meets the right leg or right leg meets the left leg of "opare". "Opare" also scores a point when the left leg meets the left or the right leg meets the right leg of "ohyiwa". The first to get ten points wins the game or contest. The game: Two contestants at a time, one from each team start clapping their hands while singing and jumping. As they land each manipulates the legs and places one leg forward. As explained above, 'ohyiwa' wins by the left leg meeting the right leg or right leg meeting the left leg of "opare". "Opare" scores by the left leg meeting the left leg or right leg meeting the right leg of "ohyiwa". There is no referee but every team counts its scores as the game progresses. The first to get ten points wins. A set of games is played and the higher scorer determines the winner.
Contributed by D.A. Akuoko - Thank you!"
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This concludes Part I of this two part series.
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