KWEPENA, THE OLYMPICS OF CHILDHOOD GAMES.

When I look back at my childhood, I feel really nostalgic because that was one hell of a fun childhood. We enjoyed the outside maximally which this generation’s children might never relate to and I actually do feel bad for them.

Anyway, growing up I had only one sibling which meant it would be the two of us for a very long time until the other three came along.  However, we really enjoyed ourselves because we got to play a game called Kwepena. I don’t know how many of you know that game but I think at least 90 percent of you surely do.

Having extremely strict parents meant that you could not leave home unless you had been sent to the Kaduka or given permission to go somewhere. This meant we had to either play at home or risk being walloped in case we “swallowed a pin” and decided to leave. Quite a number of times we left home. Kiboko would ensue afterwards but having fun was a constant.

Kwepena was fun but even more interesting with about 10 people to play with considering that fact there had to be teams and they were usually two. Imagine, we would play for too long and even forget to eat. That’s how addictive that game was.

There were always those players that were so good hence being wanted on every team. That is why we had to stand in a line and evenly distribute ourselves; one would move to the left the next to the right till the last person and that is how a team was made. I was good at Kwepena but my sister Sandra Lornah was really good.  She was the Serena Williams of the game. 

Additionally one other thing I remember and laugh about is that at some point people fought? Oh yes they did ! For instance, if there was any kind of cheating and the owner of the ball was on the losing team, she would get annoyed and take her ball. This was always followed by quick apologies or making a new one. By the way the making of a Kwepena ball wasn’t rocket science since it was made out of dry banana fibers, some polythene bags and a small stone inside which helped increase the speed at which the ball moved when thrown at someone.

Oh yes, a stone! I know what you are thinking! Yes, there were a few small accidents here and there if you were hit so hard but we would survive our way through them. I guess the motto then must have been ’If we die we die.’

One more thing I cannot forget about Kwepena was that at one point we played a lot at a certain spot at home until all the grass dried up, I swear. Our dad could not take it anymore he had to ban the game because home had become a playground for it. He said, ‘obundagaruka kusanga omuntu wena nayepenera hanu inywena nkubatera.” (If I find anyone playing from here again I will beat all of you.)

This game taught me that too much of anything is always bad in a sense that you cannot definitely play from morning to evening because fights and punishments are bound to happen in the aftermath.

In addition to the above you have to learn how to manage your time in that there should be time for everything; if it’s time to work, please work and if it’s time to play, play as well.

Furthermore, I learnt team work, because in order to win in Kwepena you had to put in the effort as a whole team and quite a number of times this is also needed at work.

In a nutshell, I could go on and on about this beautiful and fun filled game but I have to stop here. I hope you get to imaginably experience what I had as a child however I also encourage you to try it out. You will love it.

There is no age limit to playing or relaxing. Arrange that Kwepena date with your crew now.

Author 

Bagamba Miranda Violet Abwooli