Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on the traditional Ghanaian children's game called "Ampe".
Part II provides a general description of the Ghanaian children's game "Ampe" and showcases seven videos of that game.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/06/information-about-traditional-ghanaian.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents information about 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 featured in these videos, and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to Tim Hull for his short film series of folk games including the film about Ampe and thanks to all the publishers of these YouTube videos.
****
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AMPE
Ampe is a traditional Ghanaian children's competitive recreational children's (mostly girls) game that has been described as being similar to the hand game "rock, paper, scissors". Ampe is played by two people or two teams usually without chanting or singing. Two players at a time perform the basic movements of jump, (individual)* hand clap, followed by a jump with either the right or left foot extended. Read the rules of the game in Part I of this series.
-snip-
*individual hand clap (a person claps her or his own hand)
There are at least fifteen YouTube videos from 2009 - 2018 of Ghanaian children playing Ampe, including those videos that are featured in this post. Unfortunately, the comment feature has been disabled for most Ampe videos or those videos have few if any comments as of the time of the publication of this pancocojams post.
The globaltimoto.com short film whose link is given as "video #1" isn't featured on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: Short & Tight
Kwamoso, Eastern, Ghana
Captured: 2007-01-04 ~ 2007-02-20
Published: 2007-02-24
Duration: 14:55
by globaltimoto.com (Tim Hull)
https://www.globaltimoto.com/africa/ghana/games/ampe/videos/short-and-tight/
-snip-
Description:
"This video shows Ampe, a girls' jumping, dancing, clapping game from Ghana, that helps bring communities together and develop player skills of anticipation.
In this video we hear from young and old generations of Kwamoso to help celebrate 50 years of independence in Ghana."
-snip-
Here's a quote from that same website that explains the meaning of this film's title:
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."
****
Video #2: Ghanaian children playing Ampei in village of Hamdia, near Tamale, Ghana
CrockKneeBoy, Published on Mar 8, 2009
Ghanaian children playing Ampei in village of Hamdia, near Tamale, Ghana
****
Video #3: Ampe (a ghanaian children's game)
Soul Sounds, Published on Sep 6, 2008
Some footage of a very popular game played by little girls in ghana.
-snip-
The narrator indicates that Ampe is similar to the “Rock, paper, scissors” hand game.
****
Video #4: Ghana trip ♥ : What is Ampe?
MimiOnliine, Published on Sep 6, 2012
Children showing me how Ampe is played. And this video shows that boys can also play Ampe :)
****
Video #5: Childrien playing Ampe. Akwamufie presbyterian school. Ghana.
Karl Holm, Published on Apr 13, 2018
****
Video #6:Ghanian ladies Games
ABAN TV GH
Published on Jun 28, 2017
Playing Ghanaian woman Games
-snip-
I added the following two comments to this video's discussion thread:
Azizi Powell, June 24, 2019
"Hello, Ghanaian sisters. I'm an African American woman who happened upon this video while looking for videos of the children's game Ampe.
Are these traditional Ghanaian children's (mostly girls) games and are they still being played by children nowadays? What are the names of each of these games and explain what is being sung or chanted.
Thanks in advance.
Bless up!"
**
Azizi Powell, June 24, 2019
"I'm asking about the other games beside Ampe which I recognized in this video, although I'm still not sure how to play it :o("
-snip-
Here's a reply to these questions from the video's publisher:
ABAN TV GH, June 25, 2019
"hello sister Azizi yes Ampe still play mostly at small towns and villages Amepe have some words which is not really a song , in this video you saw Ampe and Aso, ( Asɔ ) so Asɔ is the girls game come with songs . . ...."
**
REPLY
Azizi Powell, June 25, 2019
"@ABAN TV GH, thank you for your quick response.
I featured this video on this post in my pancocojams cultural blog: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/06/seven-videos-of-ghanaian-childrens-game.html Seven Videos Of The Ghanaian Children's Game "Ampe"
Do I understand you correctly that all the singing clapping games with songs in Ghana are called Aso, ( Asɔ )? I'd love to know the names of each individual game with the time it was featured in this video.
I'm very interested in documenting the words to examples of African children's games. Would you or someone else please write the words in Akan and English to at least one of those games (such as the first one in this video)?
I know that I'm asking a lot, but there's so little information about Ghanaian children's games that is know in the USA and the internet is one way to share that information with the world.
Thanks!"
****
Video #7: Ampe Adenta Project
Ottiya, Published on May 22, 2018
This is a video of girls playing ampe in a group in the school yard in Ghana recorded by Yaba Haffar. Yaba wrote an article entitled "Playing and Learning through Rhythm and Song in Ghana", which connects to ampe. You can read her article in the Play Issue of the Ottiya Magazine: http://www.ottiya.com/shop
-snip-
The play issue of that magazine cost $25.00.
****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label ampe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ampe. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Information About The Traditional Ghanaian Children's Game Called "Ampe"
Edited by Azizi Powell
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.
****
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."
****
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
****
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
****
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]”...
****
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."
****
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!"
****
This concludes Part I of this two part series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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.
****
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."
****
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]"
****
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
****
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]”...
****
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."
****
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!"
****
This concludes Part I of this two part series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Congolese Nzango And Ghanaian Ampe (Information & Videos)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on certain traditional African competitive dances, games, or sports.
This post provides information and video examples of Congolese Nzango and Ghanaian ampe. This Central African and West African game are presented together to highlight the similarities between these two games. Furthermore, readers of Part I of this series will notice the similarities between both of these games and the foot work descriptions of Kongolese nsunsa.
Several comments presented after the video given as Example #1 for Ampe includes the names of similar African games.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/descriptions-of-kongolese-competitive.html for Part I of this series.
Part I features information about the Kongolese empire, descriptions of Kongolese nsunsa and descriptions of South American adaptations of nsunsa.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-latin-american-dance-malambo-its.html for Part III of this series.
Part III of this series provides information about and videos of the Latin American dance "malambo" and its Congolese dance.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic reasons.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to those who created these traditional games/sports and thanks to the past and present practitioners of this game/sport. Thanks also all those who are featured in these videos, and who published these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT NZANGO
From https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0810849194 Historical Dictionary of Republic of the Congo By John Frank Clark, Samuel Decalo p. 325
"Nzango also called dzango, is a widely popular woman’s dancing sport that has taken root both in the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Originally a children’s game, it involves one team of 11 dancers exactly copying the moves of dancers of the opposing team. Nzango’s rules were standardized in the years between 2008 and 2010 and national tournaments have been organized. The Congolese government has recently promoted the sport as a vehicle for improving physical fitness among Congolese women."
-snip-
Additional comments about nzango are found below.
****
FEATURED VIDEOS OF NZANGO
These examples are given in chronological order based on the video's publishing date on YouTube, with the video with the oldest date given first.
Example #1: Congolese game isn't just child's play
AFP news agency, Uploaded on Jan 25, 2011
"Nzango", a traditional Congolese game for children, involves leaping about while singing nursery rhymes. But, unlikely as it may seem, it's now developing into a hugely popular competitive sport for women across central Africa. Duration: 01:19
-snip-
Here's my [partial] transcription of the English statements given in this video. Additions and corrections are welcome.
"Nzango, a traditional Congolese game used to be only played by children. But now it has become a competitive sport for grown ups too. And it’s particularly popular with woman.
The rules are complex, but points are scored by crossing or uncrossing your feet
Referee- “If a player crosses the yellow line, she gets a yellow card, and is excluded for two minutes. If she crosses the red line, she gets a red card. If she skips without keeping pace with the songs, she is reminded that she must jump in time with the music.”
To play “Nzango” you certainly need a sense of rhythm. And Congolese woman see it as a way to keep fit and a good reason to get out of the house....
In three years more than seventy teams have been formed in Eastern Kinshasa alone, But Nzango is also popular across the entire Congo. And slowly but surely it’s infectious combination of dance and sport and song is spreading throughout Central Africa."
****
Example #2: Nzango
TheBeachpreacher,Published on Feb 10, 2014
Nzango i Kimpese, Kongo Kinshasa
-snip-
The squad sings a call and response song in the beginning of the video and also sing while playing the game.
****
Example #3: les mamans nzango de lausanne suite
AVIS DU PUBLIC TV, Uploaded on Dec 27, 2011
Music: "Mochokokt wa michonga" by Carlyto Lassa
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's discussion thread:
TheHCGTube, 2013
"bonne video mais pourquoi couvrir les chants de musique????"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English
"good video but why cover music songs ????"
-snip-
I think that comment is questioning the reason for the music in the backqround since traditionally the game is played just with the participants' chanting.
****
Example #4: LE NZANGO MODERNE [Modern] (Contemporary) Nzango
Charles Mbuya, Published on Apr 1, 2014
SUJET DE CHARLES MBUYA SUR LE NZANGO MODERNE
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread:
mosekayameke, 2014
C'est une idée géniale que d'exploiter le NZANGO qui est, à l'origine, un jeu que j'ai connu et pratiqué dans mon enfance, en Rdc (j'ai 68 ans). C'était un jeu pour fillettes et jeunes filles et les points se comptaient exclusivement dans une certaine langue. Et l'on comptait: èmoti, ébalé, ésato, ènei, étano, motoba, sambano, monana, mobua, longosa ( 1 à 10). L'équipe qui totalisait 10 remportait la manche puis on enchaînait jusqu'à ce que les filles décident d'arrêter de jouer. Ah!!! quelle nostalgie!!!
-snip-
Google translate from French to English
"It's a great idea to exploit the NZANGO which is originally a game that I have known and practiced in my childhood, on the ground floor (I have 68 years). It was a game for girls and young women and the points were counted only in a certain language. And there were: Emoti, Ebalé, ésato, enei, etano, motoba, sambano, Monana, mobua, Longosa (1 to 10). The team had 10 scored in the then chained until the girls decide to stop playing. Ah !!! How nostalgia !!!"
-snip-
Instead of the word "exploit" in this translation, it would be better to use the words "promote the advantages of".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT AMPE
From http://mmofraghana.org/interesting-finds/world-games-ampe/
"World Games – Ampe!
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)…
Detailed notes on the game are here. http://www.globaltimoto.com/pages/game_11_Ampe.htm. 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-
The above mentioned associated website of notes on the Ghanaian game of ampe includes very interesting descriptions such as these:
"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 girl's daring fashion....
Anticipation is key to becoming Champion. Girls who observe and calculate each opponents bias towards throwing a particular leg forward and then being able to anticipate this momentarily, is Ampe's major skill to be mastered. Players are not allowed to hold back and throw their legs later than their opponents, this is cheating, so they must be extremely quick to switch leg positions at the slightest nuance or change in their opponents manoeuvres."
-snip-
Additional information and comments about ampe are given below.
****
FEATURED VIDEOS OF AMPE
Example #1: Ampe (a ghanaian children's game)
AritHeru23, Uploaded on Sep 6, 2008
some footage of a very popular game played by little girls in ghana.
-snip-
Here are several comments from this video's discussion thread:
Mizz Mefu, 2012
"Played in Nigeria as well, called Tente"
**
Tom Ngo, 2013
"In douala Cameroon we call it mbang... Africa is amazing..."
**
Ghanaperu, 2013
"Whoever said it's like Simon Says is very wrong. It's like the guy in the video said, like Rock, Paper, Scissors. You're trying to win, not copy the leader. And, boys do play it. It is not strictly for girls, although it is normally girls who play. At least, that's how it is in the Volta Region."
-snip-
"Volta Region" [of Ghana]
****
Example #2: Ampe, Game played in Ghana
Phil Paoletta, Uploaded on Jul 20, 2010
Ampe, a Ghanaian game typically played by schoolchildren. It involves jumping, clapping twice and throwing your leg out. Before the match begins, you and your opponent decide whether you are going for straight or condor (phonetic spelling). If you go for straight, you get a point if you throw out your right leg and I throw out my left -- our feet/legs would line up in a straight line. If you go for condor, then you get a point if you throw out your left leg and I throw out my left leg. You play to five or ten.
****
Example #3: Students Playing Ampe ("AHM pay")
William Rosebrock, Uploaded on Dec 8, 2010
At the Christ Prince of Peace School (CPOPS) in Ho, Volta Region, Ghana. December 2010
****
Example #4: AMPE : A LOCAL GHANAIAN GAME
cassandra ntiamoah Published on Jun 17, 2012
playing Ampe with Gina.
****
This concludes Part II of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on certain traditional African competitive dances, games, or sports.
This post provides information and video examples of Congolese Nzango and Ghanaian ampe. This Central African and West African game are presented together to highlight the similarities between these two games. Furthermore, readers of Part I of this series will notice the similarities between both of these games and the foot work descriptions of Kongolese nsunsa.
Several comments presented after the video given as Example #1 for Ampe includes the names of similar African games.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/descriptions-of-kongolese-competitive.html for Part I of this series.
Part I features information about the Kongolese empire, descriptions of Kongolese nsunsa and descriptions of South American adaptations of nsunsa.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-latin-american-dance-malambo-its.html for Part III of this series.
Part III of this series provides information about and videos of the Latin American dance "malambo" and its Congolese dance.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic reasons.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to those who created these traditional games/sports and thanks to the past and present practitioners of this game/sport. Thanks also all those who are featured in these videos, and who published these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT NZANGO
From https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0810849194 Historical Dictionary of Republic of the Congo By John Frank Clark, Samuel Decalo p. 325
"Nzango also called dzango, is a widely popular woman’s dancing sport that has taken root both in the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Originally a children’s game, it involves one team of 11 dancers exactly copying the moves of dancers of the opposing team. Nzango’s rules were standardized in the years between 2008 and 2010 and national tournaments have been organized. The Congolese government has recently promoted the sport as a vehicle for improving physical fitness among Congolese women."
-snip-
Additional comments about nzango are found below.
****
FEATURED VIDEOS OF NZANGO
These examples are given in chronological order based on the video's publishing date on YouTube, with the video with the oldest date given first.
Example #1: Congolese game isn't just child's play
AFP news agency, Uploaded on Jan 25, 2011
"Nzango", a traditional Congolese game for children, involves leaping about while singing nursery rhymes. But, unlikely as it may seem, it's now developing into a hugely popular competitive sport for women across central Africa. Duration: 01:19
-snip-
Here's my [partial] transcription of the English statements given in this video. Additions and corrections are welcome.
"Nzango, a traditional Congolese game used to be only played by children. But now it has become a competitive sport for grown ups too. And it’s particularly popular with woman.
The rules are complex, but points are scored by crossing or uncrossing your feet
Referee- “If a player crosses the yellow line, she gets a yellow card, and is excluded for two minutes. If she crosses the red line, she gets a red card. If she skips without keeping pace with the songs, she is reminded that she must jump in time with the music.”
To play “Nzango” you certainly need a sense of rhythm. And Congolese woman see it as a way to keep fit and a good reason to get out of the house....
In three years more than seventy teams have been formed in Eastern Kinshasa alone, But Nzango is also popular across the entire Congo. And slowly but surely it’s infectious combination of dance and sport and song is spreading throughout Central Africa."
****
Example #2: Nzango
TheBeachpreacher,Published on Feb 10, 2014
Nzango i Kimpese, Kongo Kinshasa
-snip-
The squad sings a call and response song in the beginning of the video and also sing while playing the game.
****
Example #3: les mamans nzango de lausanne suite
AVIS DU PUBLIC TV, Uploaded on Dec 27, 2011
Music: "Mochokokt wa michonga" by Carlyto Lassa
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's discussion thread:
TheHCGTube, 2013
"bonne video mais pourquoi couvrir les chants de musique????"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English
"good video but why cover music songs ????"
-snip-
I think that comment is questioning the reason for the music in the backqround since traditionally the game is played just with the participants' chanting.
****
Example #4: LE NZANGO MODERNE [Modern] (Contemporary) Nzango
Charles Mbuya, Published on Apr 1, 2014
SUJET DE CHARLES MBUYA SUR LE NZANGO MODERNE
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread:
mosekayameke, 2014
C'est une idée géniale que d'exploiter le NZANGO qui est, à l'origine, un jeu que j'ai connu et pratiqué dans mon enfance, en Rdc (j'ai 68 ans). C'était un jeu pour fillettes et jeunes filles et les points se comptaient exclusivement dans une certaine langue. Et l'on comptait: èmoti, ébalé, ésato, ènei, étano, motoba, sambano, monana, mobua, longosa ( 1 à 10). L'équipe qui totalisait 10 remportait la manche puis on enchaînait jusqu'à ce que les filles décident d'arrêter de jouer. Ah!!! quelle nostalgie!!!
-snip-
Google translate from French to English
"It's a great idea to exploit the NZANGO which is originally a game that I have known and practiced in my childhood, on the ground floor (I have 68 years). It was a game for girls and young women and the points were counted only in a certain language. And there were: Emoti, Ebalé, ésato, enei, etano, motoba, sambano, Monana, mobua, Longosa (1 to 10). The team had 10 scored in the then chained until the girls decide to stop playing. Ah !!! How nostalgia !!!"
-snip-
Instead of the word "exploit" in this translation, it would be better to use the words "promote the advantages of".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT AMPE
From http://mmofraghana.org/interesting-finds/world-games-ampe/
"World Games – Ampe!
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)…
Detailed notes on the game are here. http://www.globaltimoto.com/pages/game_11_Ampe.htm. 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-
The above mentioned associated website of notes on the Ghanaian game of ampe includes very interesting descriptions such as these:
"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 girl's daring fashion....
Anticipation is key to becoming Champion. Girls who observe and calculate each opponents bias towards throwing a particular leg forward and then being able to anticipate this momentarily, is Ampe's major skill to be mastered. Players are not allowed to hold back and throw their legs later than their opponents, this is cheating, so they must be extremely quick to switch leg positions at the slightest nuance or change in their opponents manoeuvres."
-snip-
Additional information and comments about ampe are given below.
****
FEATURED VIDEOS OF AMPE
Example #1: Ampe (a ghanaian children's game)
AritHeru23, Uploaded on Sep 6, 2008
some footage of a very popular game played by little girls in ghana.
-snip-
Here are several comments from this video's discussion thread:
Mizz Mefu, 2012
"Played in Nigeria as well, called Tente"
**
Tom Ngo, 2013
"In douala Cameroon we call it mbang... Africa is amazing..."
**
Ghanaperu, 2013
"Whoever said it's like Simon Says is very wrong. It's like the guy in the video said, like Rock, Paper, Scissors. You're trying to win, not copy the leader. And, boys do play it. It is not strictly for girls, although it is normally girls who play. At least, that's how it is in the Volta Region."
-snip-
"Volta Region" [of Ghana]
****
Example #2: Ampe, Game played in Ghana
Phil Paoletta, Uploaded on Jul 20, 2010
Ampe, a Ghanaian game typically played by schoolchildren. It involves jumping, clapping twice and throwing your leg out. Before the match begins, you and your opponent decide whether you are going for straight or condor (phonetic spelling). If you go for straight, you get a point if you throw out your right leg and I throw out my left -- our feet/legs would line up in a straight line. If you go for condor, then you get a point if you throw out your left leg and I throw out my left leg. You play to five or ten.
****
Example #3: Students Playing Ampe ("AHM pay")
William Rosebrock, Uploaded on Dec 8, 2010
At the Christ Prince of Peace School (CPOPS) in Ho, Volta Region, Ghana. December 2010
****
Example #4: AMPE : A LOCAL GHANAIAN GAME
cassandra ntiamoah Published on Jun 17, 2012
playing Ampe with Gina.
****
This concludes Part II of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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