Somali Games of Pretence

G. Marin


[Page 500] The boys play at rearing camels, horses, etc., using soft stones roughly hewn, out to represent those animals; they pretend to be looking for fresh pastures and to be busy migrating.

They also play at war with wooden spears, lie in ambush and spy on the enemy. Or again they pretend to speak before the assembly.

The girls simulate household work; elongated stones are their dolls, which they wrap in old rags; they build their little huts with branches and use big leaves as mats; for goats and sheep they use two kinds of mountain shells.


Last update January 7, 2010