The Struggle of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in an Age of Globalization: A Case for Children�s Traditional Games in S

Chapter Seven: Name Games/Games to Remember Names

79 Chapter Seven Games to Remember Names These games were meant to sharpen memory skills in children. Given that long ago, the tradition of writing was alien to the Zimbabwean traditional culture, children were trained to master their environment i.e. the names of things that surround them by memory. Names of the things they were required to know were those of rivers, trees, animals, people and birds, among many other things. For instance, children were required to know all the names of the trees that were found in their locality. In most cases, games to remember names of things were played as songs and it is in these songs that the names of the things would feature. The games included: Du-du muduri (Guess What His Name Is) This game is meant to teach children to know and remember names of people found in their culture. It also teaches rhythmic patterns and verbal tasks that help them to acquire linguistic jargon of their vernacular language easily. To play ‘Du-du muduri’ (Guess what his name is), children sit on the ground surface in a group. A leader is chosen, although this done in turns. S/he leads the game, that is, in singing the names of people while others respond ‘Katswe’. The leading child thus would say out as many names (of people found in her culture) as s/he can remember. S/he would start: 80 Leader: Du-du muduri Chorus: Katswe L: Farai muduri C: Katswe L: Taurai muduri C: Katswe L: Kumbirai muduri C: Katswe L: Tonderai muduri C: Katswe L: Tinashe muduri C: Katswe L: Chipo muduri C: Katswe L: Pedzisai muduri Z Zengera Uyo Mutii? (Guess What Tree Is That) This game was meant to teach children their biological environment, and in particular to know and remember names of trees found in their geographical locations. In this game, children of the same age group gather at one point/locality, normally around an elderly person who is well versed with the geography of the area. They take turns to sing the names of trees they know and remember. Once the leading child takes some time i.e. a few minutes before remembering the name of any tree found in their locality, s/he has failed. The other participants simply count the number of trees s/he has remembered before the next child takes over the lead. After everyone has participated, they would check for the one with the highest number of trees. The one with the highest number of trees would be considered the winner in that 81 round. The song that is sung as the game progresses is this below: Chorus: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) Leader: Mutondo sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a mutondo there you are) C: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Mupfuti sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a mupfuti there you are) C: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Murwiti sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a murwiti there you are) C: Do-do do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Mumvee sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a mumvee there you are) C: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Mupangara sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a mupangara there you are) C: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Munyii sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a munyii there you are) C: Do-do do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Mushuku sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a mushuku there you are) C: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) 82 L: Mutsvindingari sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a mutsvindingari there you are) C: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Munzviru sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a munzviru there you are) C: Do-do do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do, zengera what tree is that one?) L: Muonde sengurudze paya kuti tsve-e (It is a muonde there you are) C: Do-do, zengera uyo mutii? (Do-do...