Nigeria Traditional Recreation Sports/Games

In Nigeria setting, there are a lot of traditional sports and games that cut across over 2008 ethnic groups of people in Nigeria some of which reflected cultural heritage, religious background, of the people of Nigeria in general. The traditional sports federation organized the following sports and games competitions on annual basis.

[a] ‘Ayo’ A seed game where in the one with the largest collection is declared winner.

[b] ‘Abula’ A ball game played across the net with a wooden baton.

[c] Kokawa; Traditional wrestling.

[d] Dambe; Traditional boxing, done with one hand clubbed with cloth and rope.

[e] Langa; A hopping game of standing/running with one leg, where in opponents struggle to dislodge one other.

Most of the traditional sports and games can be played in both indoor and out door respectively.

     (a)   AYO GAME

According to ‘Ayo’ game, two people are involved when playing the game with spectators. The ‘Ayo board’ consists of twelve [12] holes, six [6] holes in each board [0.8 to 1.2m] long. Each hole contains four ‘Ayo seeds’ which make a total seeds of forty-eight [48 seeds]. The players sit in opposite direction to each other and play anti-clock wise. A player can only capture two [2] to three [3] seeds in the opponents hole, where the seeds end. The largest collection of the seeds is declared the winner. Only one umpire determines the beginning and the start of the game by a toss of coin.

AYO GAME - RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Player should play anticlockwise

2. Player cannot reverse his/her play immediately he started distributing the seeds.

3. Players should play within thirty [30] seconds. If not, the chance goes to the opponent.

4. Player cannot pack more than three [3] seeds in a hole of his/her success.

5. If a player realizes that he has first captured twenty-four [24] seeds he/she must notify the referee.

6. There should be no side coaching during game situation to avoid cancellation.

7. In any competition, the number of the game shall be seven [7] and best of four [4] a game is awarded 2 points for the winner.

(b) ABULA

It is a ball game played across the net with a wooden baton. 'Abula' is a traditional game that originated from south-western part of Nigeria. The skills are Grip, Bend-picking, Ball placement, the Smash, Blocking, Ball Deflection, Rally and Footwork.

Abula is a ball game played on a court rectangular [16m by 8m], 8 players, four [4] players on each side of the court. The players used wooden bats to hit the ball over the net from one side to the other. The game can be played by Male and Female, even mixed categories of male and female players with only 4 four substitutes for a team. [The Abula traditional game resembles ‘Volley ball’ game]. There are some basic fundamental skills that are peculiar to Abula game such as the Grip, Bend-picking, Ball placement, the Smash, Blocking, Ball Deflection, Rally and footwork. The team that is first to score the 16 points, while the other has either 14 points or less wins the game.

ABULA GAME -RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. The number of the players must be eight [8] in the court before the commencement of the match.

2. In a competition the teams must not be less than 3 participating teams;

3. The team must appear on the court five [5] minutes to avoid disqualification.

4. The game starts with a toss of coin to choose side, between the two [2] captains.

5. A team is allowed to play the ball not less down 3 times before the ball passes to the opponent court. The officials of the games are Referee, Assistant Referee, Table Scorer /Recorder, chalk board scorer, and four [4] linesmen. Basic terminologies associated with Abula game are service, time out, Time in, Ball-in and out, Game-over, set over and change of side, Double foul, Rotation, game point e.t.c.

(c) KOKAWA [Traditional Wrestling]

In the olden days, Kokawa [traditional wrestling] was used as a criterion to marring a beautiful girl in as much as one could prevail against the opponent. The essence of African wrestling is to see that a wrestler is able to throw the opponent’s back to the ground and at the same time the opponent tries to prevent this more. The kokawa [Traditional wrestling can take place on a sand-filled circled surface measuring [6] six metres in diameter, free from injurious particles. The categories of the wrestlers depend on their weight from 45kg -100kg and above. The duration is 3 rounds 3 minutes and 2-3 minutes for resting. The wrestler with the highest number of points is declared the winner. Some basic techniques, Double led pickup, single leg pickup, Head pulling, Head pulling, Head with Arm pulling, Duck under push down, Duck under leg crossing, front suplex and Back suplex.

(d) DAMBE [TRADITIONAL BOXING]

Dambe is peculiar to the Northern part of Nigeria mostly the punches. It is a combative game played between two players using an arm/first and legs, one arm is wrapped with crape bandage and the other hand is free to for protection like a shield. The play area is about [10] ten metres diameter, either indoor or outdoor the duration is 3 rounds and one round is for 3 minutes and 2 minutes resting. The Boxer with highest number of points is declared as the winner.

DAMBE GAME RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Only a first is wrapped and punches are directed to the opponent using the wrapped first.

2. The maximum point a player can score in about is thirty [30] points

3. No boxer directs points on the lower part of the body and no head butt.

4. No player or boxer can run out of the playing circle and 3 yellow cards lead to disqualification. The officials are, Referee, Two side judges, time keeper.

(e) LANGA GAME [HOPPING GAME]

Langa is an old game which keeps the youth fit after their farming season, Langa is played by two people each would hold one leg either right or left leg. This is done at the back below the bottom level for a firm grip the fingers of the hand is fixed in between the foot fingers or the toe is well gripped. The player moves with the other leg and fights or blocks with the free hand. The player who is able to fall or dislodge his opponent had won the play. 2 points is awarded to the outstanding player.

LANGA GAME - RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. The toss of coin is used to start the game, the referee or the umpire can change sides after each set of six teams, six substitutes allowed during the game situation.

2. Captain is identified by armband, is a foul for a player to use kneel to displace or dislodge his opponent.

3. It also a foul if a player should kick, box, or beat his opponents, three [3] yellow cards leads to red card or disqualification. The Langa game officiating officials include, Referee, Umpire, Recorder, Scorer and 2 Supervisors to watch the players for safety.

PROBLEMS FACING TRADITIONAL SPORTS AND GAMES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

1. Poor state of facilities and high cost of equipment

2. There is poor support from the media

3. Inadequate personnel

4. Poor funding

5. Lack of incentives for Athletes and coaches