The Nigerian Children's Hand Clap Game "Tinko Tinko" Reminds Me Of The African American Children's Hand Clap Game "Slide Slide Slippery Slide"

Akinlabi Opeyemi, Apr 30, 2023

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about the Yoruba Nigerian children's hand clap game called "Tinko Tinko" and different names in other languages in Nigeria.

This post also showcases several YouTube videos of "Tinko Tinko".

The Addendum of this post showcases two YouTube videos of a very similar African American hand clap game called "Slide" 9also known as "Slide Slide Slippery Slide", "Numbers" and other names). A link to a pancocojams series about the game "Slide" is also included in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. 

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE NIGERIAN CHILDREN'S GAME "TINKO TINKO"
These explanations are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

Explanation #1
From https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tinko_tinko_01.jpg
“This is a hand game played on the streets of Nigeria.      

English: This is a game of tinko tinko. It is a common game played in the streets of Nigeria, it is played with the hands by two players. The players will start by touching each other palms saying the words "tinko tinko tinko loco tinko" then they start clapping their hands in a up high and down low position respectively. As they go on, the number of claps would increase numerically ie clap once then twice then three times etc. The child does not get tired first and stop clapping is the winner of the day.

8 February 2019

Source  Own work

Author  Emmanuelokigbo2001” 

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Explanation #2
From https://www.facebook.com/CoachJohnAnene/videos/did-you-play-this-nigeria-game-s%C3%B2r%C3%B2-s%C3%B2kethe-game-is-called-tinko-tinko-it-is-one/1744659612361528/

John Anene,March 8, 2021

"Did you play this Nigeria game? 🤚 Sòrò-Sòke!

The game is called TINKO TINKO. It is one of the special games played by Nigerian child, it is played with the hands by two players. The players will start by touching each other palms saying the words "tinko tinko tinko loco tinko" then they start clapping their hands in a up high and down low position respectively.

As they go on, the number of claps would increase numerically that's clap once then twice then three times etc. Anyone that does not get tired first and continue clapping accordingly is the winner of the game. Now you should guess who the winner 🏆was after watching this short video! 😆

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Google translate from Yoruba to English

Sòrò-Sòke = Talk up"
-snip-
My guess is that the Yoruba meaning for the words “Talk up” is very similar to the African American Vernacular English saying “Check It Out.” 

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ADDITIONAL VIDEOS OF THE NIGERIAN CHILDREN'S HAND CLAP GAME "TINKO TINKO"
These videos are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

VIDEO #2 - #TheOhEmGees | Episode 66 - "Tinko Tinko" Game (The UK Version)



TheOhEmGees, Sep 6, 2019

It's Game Friday!!!  Today we're playing another childhood game, called different names but are equally as brutal to the knuckles!

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VIDEO #3 -Squid Game in Nigeria FT Austin Betha  & Nonso Vibez | Tinko Tinko

Tobit Vlogs, Dec 2, 2021  #Nigeria #squidgame #squidgameinreallife

‪@AustinBetha, ‪@HeyNomso , Joy and I met up at University of Lagos (Unilag)  where we played the popular Nigeria kids game Tinko Tinko. This is our fun attempt on the Nigeria version of Squid game in real life 😁
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_(game) for information about the Korean children's team competitive movement game named "squid"

Also, click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_Game for the American television series Squid Game". The series revolves around a secret contest where 456 players, all of whom are in deep financial hardship, risk their lives to play a series of deadly children's games for the chance to win a ₩45.6 billion prize. The series' title draws from a similarly named Korean children's game".

From what I've seen and read about the Nigerian children's game Tinko Tinko, I believe its hand clapping pattern is very similar to the American two person hand game "Slide" (also known as "Slide Slide Slippery Slide "and other names. Two YouTube video examples of that game are found in the Addendum to this post.

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VIDEO #4 - Can you play tinko tinko?

Zikokomag, (no publishing date given, I retrieved this from YouTube video short on Sept. 30, 2024)
 
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VIDEO #5 - So Funny: Tinko Tinko Palm Game Have Now Been Upgraded, See The Latest Upgrade (VIDEO)

Mr Update, Apr 7, 2021
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Comments are turned off.

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ADDENDUM - TWO EXAMPLES OF THE AMERICAN CHILDREN'S HAND CLAP GAME "SLIDE" ("SLIDE SLIDE SLIPPERY SLIDE")

Video Example #1- SLIDE BABY Hand-clapping Games

ATL Parents Like A Boss, May 31, 2024
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"ATL" is an abbreviation for "Atlanta" (a city in the state of Georgia. USA). "Like a boss" is an African American Vernacular English saying meaning "performed with excellence and authority".
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The comment feature is turned off for this video.

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Example #2-"Slide" Hand Clapping Game Tutorial

 

Phyllis Briscoe, Jan 30, 2024

" "Slide, Slide, Slippery Slide!"

This video is designed as an introductory lesson for Rhythmic Pattern and Body Percussion Units.

 "Slide" is a playground clapping game that involves two players. The object of the game is to perform 10 rounds of a rhythmic pattern with your hands. If a person messes up during the pattern, then they are out and you have to start over."...

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/12/playing-hand-game-slide-part-ii-two.html for a 2018 pancocojams post entitled "Playing The Hand Game "Slide" (Part II- videos & comments)". That post is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on that children's game. The link for part I is given in that post.

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