Frog leap

Ms. N Mthuli of Noordsberg KwaMaphumulo explains that this game is called frog leap because children leap like frogs when playing it. A frog is a small animal which lives both in water and in land and leaps when it moves.

Contents

  1. The person consulted
  2. Who plays this game?
  3. What is used to play this game?
  4. When is the game played?
  5. Where is the game played?
  6. How is the game played?
  7. Custom associated with this game
  8. Source

The person consulted

Ms. N Mthuli of Noordesberg, KwaMaphumulo explained how this game is played.

Who plays this game?

This game is played by girls from the age of 4 years to 10.

What is used to play this game?

Nothing is used to play this game; the girls just gather and play.

When is the game played?

This game is played during the day if it is not raining throughout the year.

Where is the game played?

This game is played in a cleared spot.

How is the game played?

Children form a straight line. They all squat and together say:

Iselesele,                  The frog
Ladl’ umntakababa,              Ate my sibling
Lasuka lathi,                   And it started to
Gxu! Gxu! Gxu!                  Jump! Jump! Jump

When they say “gxu, gxu, gxu” they jump crouching like frogs. Some fall and others continue until there is a winner who finishes first or is faster than the rest.

Custom associated with this game

There is no tradition behind this game but children played it just to stretch their bodies.

Source

From a Masters dissertation by Victoria Mkhize for the School of IsiZulu, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Supervised by Professors P.J. Zungu and V. Prabhakaran.

Leave a Comment