Where bao is more than a game

Bao, a traditional board game that has lost prominence among the youth in urban centres,but is one of the favourite games among schoolchildren living in the Lake Zone.

At Kilimahewa Primary School in Mwanza City, where Young Citizen visited this week, Bao is popular because it comes at no cost.

Schoolchildren said they also love it because it helps them in counting.

“It’s not only a game but a lesson in maths. It is simple, thrilling as well as educating,” says Peter Isaac, a Standard Five pupil.

They also say that playing Bao has become part of the school culture, more so because they have a culture teacher who encourages them to preserve the African culture by playing traditional games.

The pupils believe that the game is good for the brain. The fact that they are deep in thought thinking of the next move means they don’t use a lot of energy.

“This is a good game. Many pupils like it because it is less physical,” says Peter Isaac.

According to the culture teacher at Kilimahewa Primary School, Tatu Ngelangela, more Tanzanians have forgotten African culture and have shifted to everything foreign.

“You see our pupils like Bao game because we are in touch with our traditions. We teach them drum dancing, traditional poems, about traditional food and now how to play Bao. Some of them take culture lesson for fun but others study it as a subject,” said Ngelangela.