NCHOROKOTO: MY REFLECTION ON THE BEAUTIFUL GAME WE PLAYED GROWING UP

Nchorokoto

By Nnabugwu Chizoba

Nchorokoto, often called by its short form “Ncho” is a game I grew up to meet, love and played regularly, growing up as a child in my beautiful village of Ndi-Agwala, Echiele Otampa, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Abia State, South East, Nigeria. 

A particular axis, the surrounding area of “Iyi Obichie” provided my generation of Ncho players an enviable, supportive background, second to none, then and even now. The unique setting provided by the surrounding arena at “Iyi Obichie” remains the greatest, most secure, serene and conducive arena in the community to play Ncho. It was easily and genuinely available for the young at heart, hardworking and responsible, particularly, those that earnestly sort and were committed to playing their major roles in the family, and therefore, were religious and carried out the core mandate of helping the family to provide an essential need, but very scarce in the community, water.

Access to Water for drinking and other domestic uses, especially during the dry season was a major, and as growing children, desirous of contributing our own quota, no matter how little to ensure our families won the battle we were up and doing always and fought the threat of water to a standstill. 

The enviable Iyi Obichie and its environment as the melting point, created the opportunity that enabled the hardworking, obedient and service driven young boys and girls of my era in Ndi-Agwala to fight water scarcity, to relax, engage, play, particularly, enjoy Ncho in a group format, but most importantly to soak a real pressure, manage a very serious, debilitating and devastating challenge that I already identified above: acute water scarcity. Suffice to say, “Iyi Obichie” was the battle ground. We would go to “Iyi Obichie” a natural spring water fall, the only nearby source of water in Ndi-Agwala, and stay for hours, not on our own volition, not because of Ncho, and at the end come back with 20 litres of water at most. 

If you think this water condition of my community is over, it is because Nigeria is not happening to you. This part of the story will continue another day.

Those that understand the joy in playing your role in accomplishing any task as a growing child in a rural community, faced by acute water shortage are in the know already of the picture I am struggling to paint, and can relate better with the above narrative. The same is true of those that understand the power of nature in the affairs man and also the role of games in helping people to ease off tension and reduce pressure. Those that keenly desire to share from the beauty and abundance nature, and are thus, aware that nature provides in generous ways, are in a position to decipher the benefits the surrounding area of “Iyi Obichie” provided and still provides. 

The benevolence of pampering that nature extended to us as growing children, in the arena that is called “Iyi Obichie” is worthy of annual celebrations. As open minded and kind hearted little children, nature graciously granted us the enablement to swim through the obstacles of life, notwithstanding our pitfalls, inhibitions, blockages and hindrances that existed and actually raised their very ugly heads, yet we were availed the few opportunities to benefit from, to grow and to learn from, and above all to remain committed in mind and devote our life genuinely to noble works and courses. 

Back to Ncho; let me note that the male and female members of my small, but cherished community played the game, when I was growing up, especially, the young ones. Ncho provided flashes of very interesting moments for me and I guess numerous other young ones of my age and cluster of friends, relations and family members, acquaintances and others, not necessarily my age, but in all intent and purposes the gap in age and exposure, were never so wide. I qualify my experience, as one of those that played Ncho while growing up as full of fun and excitement. 

We played Ncho with passion, and as I put this piece together, I still relish the experience. We played the game, mostly at home, but sometimes at school, during break periods, and at other times, immediately after close of school. It was on very rare occasions that we stayed behind after close of school to play Ncho. The experience is here described as unmatched, unbeatable and unforgettable. The unique, cosy and refreshingly scenic environment of “Iyi Obichie” added glamour and colour in appreciable magnitude to my interest and experience with Ncho. Putting this brief narrative about Nchorokoto and its link with Iyi Obichie aroused nostalgic feelings of what we had and earnestly cherished that the present generation lacks: deeper sense of worth as citizens of a great nation, feelings of togetherness and affection, bonding and total commitment to one another. Feelings that we were brothers and sisters, friends and in-laws united by one family: the land of our birth, a sense of responsibility and duty owed to all inhabitants of the land, respect to seniors: and honour to all the elders, men and women, without exception. We did not have the privilege of knowing the REAL meaning of the now bandied about and more fancied words: Nephew, first, second, third Nephew, Cousin, first, second and third Cousin and the rest. We only knew Nwannem (my brother or sister). Nwannem, in this instance, include in deeper proportion, in both orientation and application, those referenced as Nephews, Cousins and by what whatever attached to them. We did that with so much interest, passion and care. Fact is long standing friends were introduced and treated as Nwannem… 

Ncho as we know it today is a board game (see attached pictures). Ours was a bit different. We played Ncho on the ground. We did this by digging holes on the ground, of same number and similar size as the one shown in the board. We made use of “Udara” seed. Udara is now known as African Star Apple by the English Language speakers. It is called Agbalumo in some parts of Nigeria. 

Reflecting now on the idea of digging holes on the ground to play Ncho and the things we also did, I see in us of yester years, people who were highly disaster conscious and committed to safety, and this permeated my community. I note this aware as a matter of fact that in almost 99% of the time the holes dogged for Ncho, were refilled or covered with sand immediately the game was over, even when the players were to reconvene to resume play in less than an hour. Digging a fresh hole or sometimes reopening a previous one was never viewed or considered a major task. Upper most in our mind always was to carry out as instructed the bidding of the seniors and elders that the holes must be covered immediately the game was over to avoid the associated risk.

Growing up, I did not witness the elders of my community: male or female play Ncho. However, most of them claimed they knew the game and also played it. So, Ncho was not strange to them. It is interesting to note that Ncho is played by the Yoruba and Hausa axiz of Nigeria. 

Ayo and Dara are the names Nchorokoto is called in Yoruba and Hausa respectively. I desire earnestly to share some perspectives of the game from the Yoruba and Hausa communities, and I will.