Friday, April 23, 2021

Jamaican Children's Ring Game: Twenty Four Bounces (video, words, & performance directions)



Uploaded by ochoriostube on Jun 13, 2009

 "She can do the 24 boxes, up and down the 24 boxes".
-snip-
Based on the information that I've read about this game, the word "boxes" in that summary should be "bounces".


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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update - September 15, 2022

This pancocojams post showcases the Jamaican ring game [circle game] that is titled "24 Bounces."

The content of this post is presented for cultural, recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video. Thanks also to commenter Ms. W who shared her memory of playing this game in the comment section for another one of my Google blogs.
-snip-
This video is featured in my Zumulayah blog. It was first titled "Twenty Four Boxes". That title was based on the publisher's caption that was given for this video: "She can do the 24 boxes, up and down the 24 boxes".  However, On April 11, 2021 I read a comment from Ms. W who remembers playing this game and believes the game is "Twenty four Bounces" and not "Boxes". I've therefore changed the title of this post. Ms. W also shared that there was a Jamaican song called "24 Bounces" and provided this link to that Dancehall song  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=pqH-1iwMvf8&ab_channel=CircleSound  Bramma - "24 Bounces" (Winnings Riddim Nov.2010 prod. by Di Genius).

There was also a very popular Jamaican Dancehall dance called "The Willie Bounce". The Willie Bounce is included in this 2014 YouTube video of popular Dancehall dances: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emT6teS9S6o&ab_channel=danceja 
"
22 BOGLE STEPS (Authentic Dancehall)" LATONYA STYLE demonstrates Dancehall Steps created by the legendary Gerald "Bogle" Levy aka Mr. Wacky (The Man, The History and The Dance)

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SONG LYRICS - 24 BOUNCES
There she* goes around the ring
Around the ring
Around the ring
And if you see her way over yonder
Tell her you love her
And give her 24 bounces
She can do the 24 bounces
Up and down the 24 bounces

*Change to he [him] when a boy is the middle person.
-snip-
The last two lines suggest that "24 bounces" was the name of a dance step.

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PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION
Here's the performance description for 24 bounces.

The group forms a wide circle [also called "the ring"].

One person is selected to stand in the middle of the circle.

The people forming the circle begin singing while standing in place. They may also clap in time to the song’s beat.

The middle person doesn't sing, but runs or walks around the inside of the circle .

At a specific point in the song, the middle person stands in front of someone who, presumably, he or she randomly picks.

The middle person then does some type of movement which the person she or he is standing in front of has to exactly mimic.*

After this action [or after doing this two times], the middle person exchanges places with the person in the middle, and becomes the new middle person.
-snip-
Alternately, in this Jamaican "24 bounces" game, the foot movements that the middle person and the foot movements of the person she (or he) selects.

I wonder if the Jamaican game "24 bounces" is a survival of or adaptation of Ghana's Ampe game. Here's information about that game:
from 
https://www.ottiya.com/magazine/2/playing-and-learning-through-rhythm-and-song-in-ghana/ Playing and Learning through Rhythm and Song in Ghana; June 2, 2019 
by Yaba Haffar 

"Ampe

Ubiquitous in the country and played mostly by girls, Ampe is a game of jumping, clapping, and probability, played by two individuals or more, or two teams of an equal number of players. The game is said to have been around for at least two centuries, but its exact history is obscure. The basics of the game are as follows:

Two individuals decide to either represent the ‘same leg’ team or the ‘opposing leg’ team

The two players face each other and clap in unison twice.

Upon the second clap, both players simultaneously jump up twice. Keeping with the rhythm is essential.

On the second landing of the second jump, each player is required to ‘play a leg’, that is, select and put forward either their left or right leg.

If the legs put forward align together (for example, player A’s right foot to player B’s left), the ‘same leg team scores a point; if the legs do not align (for example, player A’s right foot to player B’s right), the ‘opposing leg’ team

This process goes on for as long as agreed from the rules set at the outset of the game by all parties. The winner or winning team then celebrate in style – often with a special combination of song, dance and sometimes friendly taunting of the losers! Ampe can be more complex, extensive, and stylistically played based on the number and personalities of the players involved. In Ampe, every player must contribute to the game. It requires teamwork and good rhythm and serves as a great form of exercise for the young and young at heart."...

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ADDED Sept. 15, 2022
Here's another description of the Jamaica children's game 24 Bounces that I found on this website: https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/jamaican_ring_games.html  Ten Timeless Jamaican Ring Games

"5) Twenty Four (24) Bounces

Bring your dancing shoes because in this lively game the participants get a chance to show off their dancing skills.

The song talks about a girl/boy from over yonder who impresses everyone with his/her ability to do the 24 bounces.

At this point the girl/boy chooses a dancing partner and begins to dance. The lead singer challenges the dancer by complicating the dance e.g. way down low, side by side, back to back, foot to foot and so on.

The dance partner then takes over and the bounces continue. Soon you’ll be doing the 24 bounces too… that is if you don’t have two left feet."

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