Kenya

Kenya, located in east-central Africa, has a population of 37 million (2007) and was occupied by the British in stages from 1888, gaining its independence in 1963. It still has a sizeable British and European population, numbering up to about 34,000, and some 90,000 people in the country are ethnic Indians.

Traditionally, for the African population of the country, life revolved around villages, where most men worked as farmers or herders, and women remained in the village looking after the children or making handicrafts. As a result, from an early age, boys were involved in activities that helped them in hunting or demonstrated prowess. Using a slingshot and having an ability to hunt were both important. Some boys were also involved in fashioning models or tools, with girls involved in weaving. Traditional dances were taught by parents and village elders. Play involved Hide-and-Seek, ball games, some role-playing games, skipping, and using ol Trzebinski, a Kenya hula-hoop, Frisbees, and the like. There are games similar to lacks, played with stones. Checkers is far more popular than Chess, and men enjoy games of Kigogo or Máncala, which involves moving counters (often colored stones, seeds, or shells) around a board to capture the pieces of an opponent. There are many regional variations of Máncala, and the boards can range from elaborately decorated wooden ones to markings in the sand.

With the introduction of schools to the country, children began to participate in team events such as soccer—which is now very popular as a recreational sport throughout the country, although the very poor use a bundle of rags when they cannot afford a ball—and also, because of British influence, rugby and netball. Many children learn to swim, and athletics has become very popular, as many children were inspired by Kenyan runners, who have won many Olympic medals. Gradually, other sports such as volleyball, boxing, golf, and hockey have been introduced, and cross-country running, orienteering, and hiking also remain popular.

The British community in Kenya enjoyed a very high standard of living, and much of their social life revolved around the clubs that were found in cities and most towns in the country. There, social sports gatherings would take place, including cricket and indoor games such as billiards, playing card games, and darts. Some of these clubs have survived, but many have been forced to close, and none now have the “Color Bar” to exclude nonwhites. Robert Baden Powell, the founder of the Boy Scout Movement, retired to Kenya, where he died. He did much to encourage boys (along with his wife, who encouraged girls) to live active and healthy lives.

Many children have become regular users of the Youth Clubs in Nairobi, Mombasa, and towns throughout the country, where young people gather to play on billiards tables or listen to music, exchange stories and socialize, or play on pinball machines. There is a range of toy shops in Nairobi, most located in shopping centers. The development of computer games has also attracted much of the youth of the country, although only the wealthier ones can afford to play many of the games or own their own computer.

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