Shisima: A Three-in-a-Row Game from Kenya
Discover how to play Shisima, a traditional three-in-a-row game enjoyed by children in Kenya. Simple to learn, Shisima is a fun way to build strategic thinking skills for players of any age. Grab your free printable Shisima game board below and start playing today!
What is Shisima?
Shisima is an abstract strategy game from Kenya that challenges players to move their tokens strategically on an octagonal board to try to align three in a row. The word “Shisima” is derived from the Swahili language and translates to “well” or “source of water.” In some variations of Shisima, the game pieces are referred to as water bugs, or imbalavali. These can be represented by small stones, tokens, or beads.
Where Did Shisima Originate?
Shisima originated in the Tiriki community from Western Kenya. Observing how imbalavali, or water insects, are attracted to water, they created a game called Shisima, which means “source of water” in the Tiriki language.
How Do You Play Shisima?
To play Shisima, you’ll need a Shisima game board, which consists of a octagonal grid with a shisima in the center, and a set of two types of game pieces.
Grab your supplies:
Here’s how to play:
Each player has three pieces (or “bugs”) in a different color.
The objective of the game is to align three of your pieces in a row, with the row needing to pass through the shisima.
To start, place the game pieces opposite each other on the Shisima board like shown below.
Next, players take turns moving their tokens one space along a line to the next available point.
They can choose to enter the shisima at any time during their turn.
As your children begin playing Shisima, they’ll start to recognize some patterns that will help them anticipate their opponent’s moves and develop stronger strategies.
The first player to get 3-in-a-row wins the game.
Two important rules:
- Tokens cannot jump over one another.
- If the same sequence of moves is repeated three times, the game results in a draw.
Why You Should Play Shisima?
Shisima is a great choice for fun and learning! It helps children develop strategic thinking since you have to think ahead and plan your moves while considering your opponent’s strategies. With simple rules, anyone can quickly pick up the game. Most importantly, playing Shisima introduces you to Kenyan culture and its traditions and it’s a fun way to spend time with family and friends.
What Other Games Do Kenyan Children Play?
- Giuthi: A version of Mancala played by the Kikuyu people of central Kenya.
- Nyama: A traditional children’s game from Kenya similar to Simon Says that is played to help children improve their listening skills.
- Kumbuka: A popular memory game played in East Africa that helps develop focus and narrative skills.
- Kati Kati: A ball game where players pass a ball to each other, with the aim of not letting it touch the ground.
- Ludo: A board game that involves strategy and luck, where players race their tokens around the board based on dice rolls.
Free Printable: Shisima, A Three-in-a-Row Game from Kenya
Don’t miss out on the fun!
Download the Shisima game printable below and start playing today.
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
More 3-In-A-Row Games
A three-in-a-row game is a board game in which players strive to create a line of their symbols—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The most popular American version is tic-tac-toe, where two players alternate turns marking X’s and O’s on a 3×3 grid. The first player to align three of their symbols in a row wins the game.
Here are a few other popular three-in-a-row games from around the world:
- Trique (Colombia)
- Tsoro Yematatu (Zimbabwe)
- Dara (Nigeria)
- Nerenchi (Sri Lanka)
- Tapatan (Philippines)
- Nine Men’s Morris (England)
- Picaria (Zuni Native American Indians or the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest)
