A Ghanaian traditional
game; ‘’Pilolo’’, literary meaning ‘’time to search for’’ is found among the
children. Both boys and girls come together to play this game, thus there is no
gender discrimination. One person is given the mandate to hide the sticks
whereas the others are expected to find them. He does this without the
knowledge of the others; they are either put in a room or made to close their
eyes tightly that they cannot see where the sticks are being hidden. Participants
are timed as in when the game will be over even if you have found a stick or
not. The number of sticks hidden are equivalent to the number of participants
in the game. Since they disregard the game as having no benefits but just for
entertainment, after the sticks are hidden and they go about looking for them,
they sing a song which goes;
‘’Pilolo’’
‘’ Kwasie adwuma’’
A call by the one who hides the sticks and a
response by the others, literary meaning; ‘’time to search for, a stupid
work’’. This game is not only for entertainment and releasing stress but most
importantly, have other benefits such as the ones below.
To
begin, apart from it socializing, it helps participants to work effectively;
thus put in their all when they are given certain responsibilities. As one is
given the mandate to hide the stones so does it prepare them to take up turns
at any point in their life time. This benefit mainly comes out when they are
grown-ups and have taken on job opportunities or probably during their school
lives when they take up prefect ship or organizational positions.
More
importantly, it serves as a source of entertainment. When children close from
school, they normally want to release school stress and thereby involve
themselves in such games. With this, they refresh and free their minds of what
went on wrong in school.
Also,
it helps them use their imagination ability and develop their problem-solving
skills. Participants do usually put themselves in the shoes of the mandated
person who hides the sticks in order to make it easier for them to find. This
helps them when they face problems to figure out and solve them on their own.
Nevertheless, they learn from other people problems when they imagine and think
there is a possibility that they might go through a similar thing.
Moreover,
it helps to appreciate the concept of volume. The concept of volume has to do
with the ability of being amongst other people, building a cordial relationship
with them as well as accepting and appreciating them as they are because as
part of the facts of life; no matter where you go and get in life, you meet
other people adding up those whom you know already.
In
addition, it helps aids muscle development and build stamina. As they are timed
to look for the sticks, they try their best to beat the time and in so doing,
they are able to endure strength and energy. For them to be able to build their
stamina, it also helps them build their body’s system in terms of muscle
tissues.
Coordination,
balance and gracefulness of being quick are achieved in getting the stick from
the perfect hiding place. This helps them to work hand in hand with other
people as sometimes two of you will come together and help each other out in
finding the sticks. Appreciating your effort also encourages you to take up
other responsibilities and doing everything in time without delaying. Sometimes
as the game requires you to be climbing and walking on things just to find any
of the hidden sticks, as you continue to play, it helps in giving your body
balance.
Again,
it teaches participants to feel the presence of objects; that things exist even
if we do not see them. Thus listening to their instincts. It will help
participants in real life determine when there is something strange around them
either good or bad. For instance the African belief that ghost exist amongst
the living; if it is so, the game will in a sense help participants feel the
presence of ghosts and other spirits around.
Participants
also develop the ability of autonomy. They learn to exercise their power
through this game because they take turns in hiding the sticks. Therefore, with
the power given to them, they can do whatever they want with it; in terms of
hiding it.
Focus
cultivation is also a benefit of ‘’pilolo’’. As the participants go around
looking for the sticks, they pay attention to every little thing they see. This
helps tune the mind in finding the sticks as well as them being very observant.
From
personal experience in this game, it is the best you can ever think of
especially when you come back from school and you see all your friends gathered
at a particular place. You never know what will happen, by the time you
realize, you have indulged yourself in the game so much that you do not notice
that the night is near and you have to go to your various homes. This even
happens when you hear your mother calling out your name. I never knew the
benefits of it until now that I have found out why I possess certain abilities
and qualities as well.
In a nut shell, no
matter how insignificant we think most of the Ghanaian traditional games are,
there are benefit strings attached to them; effectiveness in work,
entertainment, socialization, imagination and problem solving ability, concept
of volume and amongst the above expressed points.
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