2. Ta mbali, or hockey (Lower Congo ta mbadi), is probably a recent introduction by steamer lads from the Lower Congo, as the Monsembe boys had no open spaces for such a game until they played on the cleared opening in front of our station. I found hockey played most vigorously at San Salvador du Congo when I arrived there in the early part of 1882.
3. Nkeka, or wheel. The potato-like substance of the plantain root is cut into a wheel, and the players arm themselves with long, sharpened splinters (mbenge) of bamboos; they divide themselves into two parties, which place themselves at about 30 or 40 yards from each other. Party A throws the wheel (kula nkeka) along the ground towards party B at the other end (nsuku), and as the wheel rolls towards them the boys of B throw their splinters at it, and if all miss, side A chants: “Thud, thud, thud, bad marksmen, die like a gazelle” (Ju, ju, ju, bamai babi, bawa na npambi); if some miss and some hit, those who hit sing: “We have hit the wheel right through the rim”—the most fatal part (Yeke, yeke, nakeke na ndende na mimpesa); if two hit they say, “Brothers truly” (Jimi be); if they all hit they sing, “It is absolutely lost and done for,” i.e. It is no good looking for slaves from this side (Mampasa malambasana). To win: Should B party hit the wheel with three splinters, then three of A party become slaves, i.e. they stand out of the game until they are redeemed; but if on the return of the wheel to A party that party hits it with four splinters, they thereby redeem their three slaves and place one of the other side in slavery. This continues until one side is in total slavery. The game excites great enthusiasm, and encourages precision in throwing.
4. Ngenza. A game in which small bamboo arrows are flipped at the fleshy mid-rib of the plantain leaf. Sides are taken, and the side with the best marksmen wins.
5. Epapunga. They make a sucking noise with the lower lip inside the upper, and the one not able to do it in unison with the others (lembwaka lokela) is “killed,” i.e. drops out until all are killed except the last, who becomes the winner.
6. Ntamba. A kind of ball game. A ball (lingendu) of leaves is made and thrown up, and is kept in the air by beating it with the palms of the hands.
7. Nkulu-nkulu. Two lines of boys sit on the ground opposite each other; the first lad of each line is called moloi (husband), the rest are called bali (wives). Each wife on the playing side interlaces her fingers, thus forming a hollow with the palms of her hands. The “husband” takes a small article and, passing his hand rapidly up and down the line of hands, he drops the article into one of the arched hands. The opposition has now to discover who has the article, and the following conversation takes place.
Opposition says:
“Baninga-baninga” (You players).
Players: “Eh!”
Opp.: “Bankutu bengi” (name of some leaves).