Duck Duck Goose

A.K.A DUCK DUCK GREY DUCK (in Minnesota region)

A.K.A. THE MUSH POT (in Indiana)

A.K.A. PESEK (in the Czech Republic)

A.K.A. ANTOAKYIRE (in Ghana)


In this game, kids sit down in a circle facing each other. One person is "it" and walks around the circle. As they walk around, they tap people's heads and say whether they are a "duck" or a "goose". Once someone is the "goose" they get up and try to chase "it" around the circle. The goal is to tap that person before they are able sit down in the "goose's" spot. If the goose is not able to do this, they become "it" for the next round and play continues. If they do tap the "it" person, the person tagged has to sit in the center of the circle. Then the goose become it for the next round. The person in the middle can't leave until another person is tagged and they are replaced.

(Bulgarian Version)

All of children sit down in the circle. One of them is chosen as Pesek. Everybody (except Pesek) close eyes and Pesek walks around the circle of children and sings: "Pesek walks around us, don't look at him, who will have a look at him, he will be bang to by Pesek."
Meanwhile Pesek bangs someone. He must run after Pesek and catch him. Provided he doesn't catch Pesek earlier than Pesek sits down on his place, he becomes a new Pesek.

(Ghanan Version)

Antoakyire Game

That is an Akan folk game literally meaning "it was not put behind you".

The children all sit in a circular fashion. Then one of them is made to carry a cloth and run around them singing:

anto akyire o anto akyire o
then they will all respond
yie yie yie!

anto akyire o anto akyire o
then they will all respond
yie yie yie!

obiba bewu o
(somebody's child is about to suffer or die)
yie yie yie

Kapoi poi
All ( yie yie yie)

The song is repeated as many times as one continues to run around.
He/ She does so many revolutions and the rule of the game is that for those children sitting, no body should look back. In the process, the moderator or the one whose turn is to run around secretly and quietly dumps the cloth behind one of those seated and continues to sing as if nothing has happened. The fast person should have a way of making sure that when the cloth is put behind him or her he/she will know and pick it and run after the moderator/person. If he or she is able to catch the moderato before he or she sits down, the new to be moderator, has the right to give the cloth back to the fellow who dumped the cloth. But if the seated fellow is that absent minded and does not realize that the cloth is behind him or her and the moderator goes round and comes back to meet that person still sitting. He/ she will hit lightly at the back of the fellow and all will laugh.  Afterwards it is that person's turn to run around. The game continues till they decide to stop.

Contributed by Nuruddin - Thank you!

 

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