Mbube Mbube
Also known as Imbube, Lion and Impala
A blindfolded circle game where a lion hunts an impala guided only by the crowd's chanting.
How to play
Players form a large circle.
Two players are chosen, one is the lion (Ingonyama) and one is the impala (Imphala).
Both are blindfolded and spun around once in the centre of the circle.
The lion tries to catch the impala while both move freely inside the circle.
The rest of the players chant 'Mbube, mbube, mbube!', louder and faster when the lion is close to the impala, softer and slower when the lion moves away.
If the lion catches the impala within two minutes, a new lion is chosen.
If not, both are freed and two new players take the roles.
Keep it fair
Before the game, establish a clear boundary, if either blindfolded player steps outside the circle, they must stop and be redirected back to the centre by a designated guide.
