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general and Ethiopian children contact with the others. The are those that make it safely to
games in particular have cogni- others in the meantime, have to the wall.

tive benefits. As to him, when find hiding places.
an adult or child is playing a Kebeto or Mehareben Yayachiw
game, he or she is not only After a while, the seeker on the is also the other traditional chil-
staring at the game inactively. wall will begin to make the dren game in Ethiopia, which is
The activities and actions pro- “coocoolu” sound, imitating the a close variant of the “duck-
vide a lot of mental stimulation. sound hens make in the morn- duck-goose” game played else-
ing. The others attempting to where, Getenesh asserted.

For one to play, he or she will hide will reply “alnegam” or it is
need to coordinate their visual, not morning yet, implying that The game begins when five and/
audial and physical movement. the hen (seeker) should not or more children form a circle, in
These games also improve at- leave his/her house. which one is chosen to be the
tention and concentration as passer of the belt or handker-
well as improving the brains The seeker will continue to chief. This person will hide the
speed, he noted. make the sound till everyone in material behind one of the peo-
the group trying to hide has hid- ple in the circle. This is done

He further stated that games den themselves and start to re- without letting anyone else in
are a great source of learning ply “nega” or the sun has risen. the circle know.
for children. While gaming, chil- At this point, the seeker will ac-
dren are supposed to learn dif- tively attempt to find those in If found out, the person who the
ferent lessons that can be de- the group that are now hidden. material passer was attempting
veloped through modern edu- to hide it behind will chase after
cation. As to him; an Akukulu In the meantime, the hidden the material passer around the
game, for example, may re- have to make it stealthily to the circle. If the belt or the handker-

quire children to be very ob- seeker’s wall or “home” and chief passer makes it back to
servant. It requires them to be place their hand on it and kiss the open spot in the circle with-
able to hide themselves well their hand. This makes them out being caught he/she will be
and find the hidden once care- safe. The seeker will have to safe.
fully. find the hidden before they
reach the wall, and call out their All in all, as such games are

This traditional Ethiopian game name and go to his wall “home” powerful catalyst for positive
can be described as a variant of and touch the wall while kissing socialization; every individual is
the well-known “hide and seek” his hand. responsible to keep these games
game, with about 6-15 people for the future with their indis-
participating. The game begins If the seeker arrives before the pensable societal advantages
when one (the seeker) in a hidden whose name was called especially for creating creative
group stares at a wall (known out, then the hidden will be children, they suggested.
as his/her house, home base, “captured”, and remain waiting
or the Mariam), avoiding eye at the seeker’s wall. The winners BY HIZKEL HAILU

DINQ MEGAZINE December 2020 STAY SAFE 59