Kora

One of the characteristics of traditional Kenyan games that we can appreciate is the simplicity of the tools required to play. With children’s playground games in particular, objects in the immediate surrounding can easily be turned into toys that can keep the little ones entertained for hours. Kora is one such game, and the only items required to play are small stones that are relatively the same size.  

Eyes on the prize 

To make the game as interactive as possible, a minimum of three players are required. To start the game, a hole is scooped on the ground and filled with 20 to 30 stones. In an indoor setting, the stones can be placed in a container or on the floor and a circle drawn around them. Once the players arrange themselves around the stones, the game can begin. 

The first player takes one stone and tosses it into the air, careful not to toss it too high! They then try to collect as many stones from the centre as they can before catching the tossed stone. If they fail to catch the tossed stone and it falls to the ground, they lose that turn and the next player tries their hand. If they catch the tossed stone, they gain another turn and continue plucking stones from the centre. Once all the stones have been collected, the player with the highest count wins the game. Easy enough, right?  

Not as easy as it looks 

Kora demands high dexterity from its players if they hope to win the game. It is a simple activity that improves hand-eye coordination among children and teaches multitasking. In this regard, it is similar to another children’s game in which a player is asked to rub their belly with one hand and pat their head with the other hand and switch the motions at regular intervals.   

Did you play kora while growing up? What name does it go by in your community? What other games did you play while growing up that tested agility?  

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