I was taking my son out for a walk today when I saw a heap of stones that caught my attention. It immediately reminded me of one of my favourite games I used to play with my elder sister, Comfort.
Can you guess the name of the game?
I’ll give you a hint. You play it by gathering seven small stones.
That’s it! I’m sure by now you know the game I’m talking about.
I think many Ghanaians who were born in the ’80s and ’90s are quite familiar with it. It’s so creatively simple that you need to have steady hands, a steady mind, and steady eyes to play if you want to win.
This game is what most Ghanaians call “En-Ones.”
If you’ve forgotten how it’s played, let me refresh your memory. Then tell me in the comments if you remember playing it with your loved ones at any point in time.
How We Played En-Ones
I remember my sister and I would sit on a flat floor whenever we played En-Ones. It was usually on our cemented veranda. We would sit opposite each other with seven carefully handpicked small stones on the floor.
My sister always asked me to start because she knew I would lose.
So, I would begin by laying the seven stones on the floor and choosing one as my striker. I’d toss the striker into the air, leaving six stones on the ground, and quickly pick up one stone at a time before catching the striker so it wouldn’t fall. If the striker touched the floor, it was game over for me.
After successfully picking the stones one by one, I’d repeat the process by picking them in twos, then threes, and so on until I finally tossed and caught all seven stones together to win.
My Sister Always Had a Trick
I remember my sister used to blow air into my eyes to distract me so I couldn’t catch the stones. I would childishly complain that she was cheating.
It was so much fun, even though my sister won most of the time.
Looking back now, I realise it wasn’t really about winning or losing. It was one of the ways we bonded as siblings.
Some Childhood Memories Never Leave You
Although I was often teary-eyed whenever I lost the game, it has become one of those childhood memories that bring a smile to my face every time I remember it.
What about you? Have you ever played En-Ones? And if you have children, nieces, nephews, or younger siblings, would you teach them how to play it today?
I’d love to hear your memories in the comments.
