Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

View citations →

Start Your African Journey

From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Africa for Kids: Hand Clapping Games from Liberia and West Africa

Part of our African Sports and Games Hub — Traditional and modern African athletics.

Explore More Content

📁 Africa for kids 📁 African Games and Traditions 📁 African hand clapping games 📁 African kids games 📁 games 📁 Liberian hand clapping games 📁 West African children’s games

Popular in This Category

Africa for Kids: Hand Clapping Games

Oral traditions are central to African history and culture. One beloved tradition is the hand-clapping games played by children across the continent. In Liberia and other parts of West Africa, these rhythmic games mix play, song, and movement, helping children build coordination, memory, and social skills.

African Hand Clapping Games
Liberian children playing hand clapping games

At the Africa Heartwood Project Refugee Orphan Home in Buduburam Refugee Camp, Ghana, Liberian refugee children perform three classic clapping games. They sing in traditional Liberian Pidgin English, locally called Coloqwa (KOH-loh-kwah).

Why Hand Clapping Games Matter

Clapping games are more than play — they teach rhythm, coordination, cooperation, and quick thinking. Children learn patterns, remember lyrics, and practice social interaction while having fun.

Three Popular Liberian Hand Clapping Games

Hand Clapping Game #1

Performed by: Rannecia and Promise

Hand Clapping Game #2 — “Oh Mama”

Performed by: Felicia, Victoria, Promise, Jackerline, Temoh, and Princess

This playful song touches on war, love, and daily life in Liberia:

Oh Mama, Mama!
Oh Papa, the war!
The war has make in the Burkina Faso.
I say East, the West.
I met my boyfriend in the ice cream shop.
He bought me ice cream on my wedding day.
Mama, Mama. I'm so sick.
Take me to the doctor, shall be quick quick quick.
Doctor, doctor. Will I die?
No my dear, you will live forever more.

Hand Clapping Game #3 — “Meter Competition”

Performed by: Princess and Temoh

This game measures distances with playful rhythm and counting:

I, I, I, I promise.
Please show me.
Television.
For example.
1 meter… 2 meter… 3 meter (continue until a player misses the pattern).

Children playing Liberian hand clapping game

How to Play Hand Clapping Games

  1. Choose a partner and a game: Pick a song like “Miss Mary Mack” or “Down Down Baby.”
  2. Learn the pattern and lyrics: Practice the claps and song until you both remember them.
  3. Start the game: Stand facing each other, clap to the beat, and sing together. Keep steady rhythm and have fun.

Try These Classics

  • My Mother Told Me: “My mother told me (clap clap) if I was goody (clap clap) …” with playful verses about family advice.
  • Fire on the Mountain: “Fire on the mountain run run run!” followed by each player saying what they’d do to escape.

Explore More African Culture

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges from the archive

African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.