Sierra Leonean children and their rights to play

Growing up as a child, we can all remember playing in the fields, on our compound or in the back yard. Every child has a right to play.  These Sierra Leonean children gather as they play a circle game called 'Akra'..Lets the children play. 

Children gather as they play 'Akra'

Akra is played by mostly girls. Seldom boy do join in the game but because they are mostly laughed at for being feminine, most boys shy away.

Playing is a good form of exercise for children

Akra is played by using both hands and feet. when a girl's turn is reached, she is expected to sing a song, clapping hands and stamping their feet. The purpose is for one of the girls in the circle to have a matching foot with that of the girl in the middle towards the end of the song.  

You cant claim to have grown up in Sierra Leone and not to have played Akra

 Once this is achieved, the successful girl in the circle will swap spaces with the girl in the middle. The girls in the circle will stand according to the number of points each has achieved. The girl with the highest point always stands at the right hand edge of the circle.

Busy playing balance ball

Apart of Akra, there is another game children play called 'Balance Ball'. It is played in a rectangular field. Both girls and boys do play 'Balance Ball'. As the name implies, while two members of one team will stand on each equal side of the field, the other team members are expected to balance a ball made with old socks. The team on the sides of the field will keep throwing the ball at the team in the middle until one of them is hit and then the teams will swap positions.

This girl runs away from the ball

Playing is not only fun but it is a very good form of exercise that helps in the physical and mental development of the child.