Mbube Mbube: Lion and Impala
A traditional Zulu game from South Africa where a blindfolded lion tries to catch an impala inside a circle of players who guide with their voices. Students practice listening skills, moving without sight and handling their emotions.
How to play
- Form 2 circles of 12–13 standing students holding hands, spread out to make a circle about 25 ft across.
- In each circle, two volunteers go to the middle: the lion, wearing a blindfold, and the impala, also blindfolded. They start about 13 ft apart.
- The circle chants "mbube, mbube" (Zulu for lion). The closer the lion gets to the impala, the louder and faster the chant; as the lion moves away, the chant gets softer.
- The lion tries to tag the impala by following the chant; the impala tries to escape without leaving the circle. Both must walk.
- If the lion tags the impala within 1 minute, the lion wins; if not, the impala wins. Then two new students go in.
- Play for about 12 minutes so at least 6 pairs get a turn in each circle. At the end, talk about how it felt to move without seeing.
Rules
- The lion and impala always walk, with hands up in front at chest height.
- The circle guides only with the chant's volume, never by calling out directions.
- If a player reaches the edge, the circle gently stops them with their hands and turns them back toward the middle.
- Safety: students who don't want a blindfold can close their eyes or be part of the circle.
Variations
Easier
Only the lion is blindfolded and the impala walks slowly with eyes open.
Standard
Lion and impala both blindfolded, with a chant that gets louder or softer.
Harder
Use two lions and one impala, or the impala wears a bell that jingles as they move.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student can be the chant leader, showing the circle how loud to be with arm signals.
- Hearing impairment: the circle guides with gentle floor taps or stomps the student can feel as vibration.
- Autism or anxiety: offer to play without a blindfold, eyes closed, so the student can open them at any time.
Learning goals
- Find your way around a space using sound cues.
- Recognize and manage the nervousness of moving without sight.
- Learn a traditional game from South Africa and a word in its language.
Equipment for a class of 25
- blindfolds: 4
Teacher tip
Explain that "mbube" means lion in Zulu and that the game was used to teach careful listening. Keep the circle tight: it's what keeps blindfolded players safe.
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