-
A traditional Yoruba girls game called ” Sin San” (Ten Ten) is found in various forms throughout Nigeria and as well other countries of Western Afrika. The Igbo for example call it “Oga” (Chief), the Akan of Ghana call it “Ampe” and employ hand as well as foot variations. In Sin San, played between any two girls at school regardless of ethnic group, the girls break off into pairs of equal. They are roughly equal in size, age, strength and as well in ability.
In the midst of this type of play, the important purpose of this game is that the girls learn to imitate about each other useful for daily interaction. They discover how carefully they can communicate with each other through gestures and how well they can read each others minds and anticipate actions. Complete grace under pressure, rhythms, movement, skill in versifying and improvisation are all essential Yoruba talents that are fostered through this game and even though individual children may not realise that fact, many however do, the societal goals do get achieved.
Each girl faces her chosen partner with hands on her hips, one girl is the leader and the other must match her fast movements exactly with but a split second to react. The leader does intricate dance steps, attempting to confuse her follower. On the second, fourth, sixth or eighth beat, the leader does a variation that the follower must catch. The follower seeks to match those steps and then responds with her own variations. As they dance, the girls sing rhythmically.
If there are spectators, they clap and sing along. As the game progressess, the rhythm becomes more heated and the participants more excited. The first girl to win six passes wins the round, then the girls switch sides. In brief, then the game consists of self elected pairs of girls playing in sequence. They use numbers, varying them rhythmically on off beats, dancing in a limited space, taking turns and forcing themselves to pay attention to subtle cues in their partners behaviour.
