Before Wi-Fi, there was ‘who go first?’
Before PlayStation, there was “Ten-ten!”
And before TikTok challenges, we had the original viral trends, played barefoot, fueled by Fanta and powered by pure joy.
When Childhood Meant the Street Was Your Playground
Growing up in Lagos in the ’90s wasn’t about gadgets or screens. The street was our stadium, our stage, our universe. You didn’t need money to have fun, just chalk, bottle covers and the ability to run when Mama shouted your name from the window.
The games we played were more than pastimes; they were lessons in rhythm, strategy and community. Each one carried a slice of Nigerian childhood nostalgia that still makes our hearts warm.
Let’s go back to the smell of dust after rain and the sound of “oya let’s play!” echoing across the compound.
1. Ten-ten
Two girls face each other. The rhythm begins, legs tapping, clapping, switching in sync to a beat only they can hear.
Miss a step and you’re out.
It wasn’t just a game, it was choreography, friendship and reflex training rolled into one. Ten-ten girls walked so TikTok dancers could run.
2. Suwe (Hopscotch)
Drawn with chalk or charcoal on the bare ground, suwe taught us balance and patience.
You toss your stone (usually an old bottle cap), hop on one leg and pray you don’t land outside the box.
It was a test of skill, yes but also of respect: only the truly agile could play on the older kids’ court.
3. Catcher / Police and Thief
Forget hide-and-seek. Catcher was Lagos cardio.
One person chases, others scatter, through gutters, behind gates, under parked cars.
You learned speed, street sense and the art of pretending to fall so your best friend could escape.
It was survival training disguised as play.
4. Tinko Tinko / Whot Battles
Some afternoons, when the sun was too hot to run, Tinko Tinko or Whot ruled the day.
“Pick two!” “Hold on!” “General market!”
The table shook, tempers flared, alliances formed.
If you’ve ever lost five rounds to a ten-year-old, you know Nigerian games were never just for fun, they were mental warfare.
More Than Play: The Culture Beneath the Games
These weren’t random childhood moments, they were rituals that built community.
Every rule, chant and move carried the rhythm of Nigerian culture: unity, creativity and joy in simplicity.
You didn’t need a referee, only trust, laughter and sometimes a sachet of pure water.
The nostalgia isn’t just about the games, it’s about a time when connection was face-to-face, not screen-to-screen.
Why We Still Remember
Maybe it’s the rhythm of Ten-ten in our heads.
Or the memory of suwe lines drawn on sand.
But deep down, these Nigerian childhood games remind us that joy was and still is something we make together.
EWA 2025 Is Bringing It BackAt EWA 2025, we’re recreating that Lagos street energy, the laughter, the movement, the shared joy. Come play, dance, eat and relive the magic of home. Because growing up Nigerian was an experience and we’re not done playing yet.