Hunia

Tag is as exhilarating a game as they come. The thrill of the chase and desperate bid to not be ‘it’ have made this game familiar to children all over the world. In the Mount Kenya region where the Meru, Gikuyu, and Embu tribes reside, a variation of this chasing game was developed called ‘hunia’.  

The name translates to ‘I have touched you, but you cannot do so to me’ or ‘Tag, you’re it!’ across the three Bantu languages in the region.  Hunia is heaps of fun but also serves a role in the development of children in communities around Mt. Kenya. 

How to Play 

Hunia begins with a bang. Typically, the reserve of young children in Primary school, the game begins when a child hastily taps another and shouts out ‘hunia!’ This marks the beginning of a maddening chase. The child who is tapped then tries their best to tap the other player back and shout ‘hunia’ themselves. In all this, tension ensues as the players dodge, run and duck to avoid being tapped. 

However, the fun is not limited to two children. When three or more children play, they split into two teams. Members of one team try to tap the members of the opposite team. When a person is tapped, they are temporarily out of the game. To gain victory, the team that is tapping must tap all the players on the opposing team. When this is achieved, the teams switch sides and the hunters become the hunted. 

A Game with a Purpose 

Anthropologists have theorised the role of games in enhancing skills in children – particularly ones that they will need in adult life. Hunia is no different. In fact, Hunia has been identified to play key roles in the physical and social development of children who play it. The first role is a social as children come together to participate in playful competition. The game gives children a chance to relax and shed any tensions.  

As a physically demanding game that relies on running and dodging, it has also been identified to support the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal development of children. In the same breath, children develop agility, speed and stellar co-ordination. 

This traditional Kenyan game is one that has truly stood the test of time. To date, children can be found in an intense game of some variation of Hunia across playgrounds in Kenya. This truly special #KeGame is a staple of many Kenyan childhoods that will be played for years to come. 

Do you remember playing a game like Hunia in childhood? Were you a master dodger or the child who was always ‘it’?  

Let us know in the comments!