Kura Ya Kura Ya....Kur jen jen....untold heritage of Dagombas
Wunpini strikes a firmly grasped stone on the ground in a circular seating arrangement and moving at the speed of light, passes it to Napari, who is seated directly to her right.
Napari looks directly into Mbo's eyes and does the same thing again. She is obviously not intimidated by Mbo's enormous palms.
Chenti, whose nickname is "Leave it to God", is undoubtedly holding onto the cunning ploy Napari just used on her.
Passing stones to the next in line as a game is popular among many ethnicities in Ghana.
In the Northern Region, the players sing Kura ya kura ya, a Dagbani song composed and passed on to generations.
The verb "kura" means "hit/beat with a fist.” "Ya" is a verb that means "drive away" or "sack".
The verb "jen" means "to pound". To participate, you must be swift, clever and somewhat crafty.
God knows, Wu'nimi saw Napari's cunning manoeuvre. But when the palace is the battlefield, who confronts the chief's daughter?
She tells herself, "Well, God has seen it." Her gaze meets Napari's, and they both sigh simultaneously. Haba! After an agonising scream, Salpawuni yells.
A clever Mbamba strikes her finger with her stone.
A necessary evil to rouse Salpawuni from her sleep.
Kur jen jen. She reacts to Napari's leading chants of "Kura ya kura ya."
About 50 people flocked to her family's TZ restaurant, where Salpawuni fed them.
She was clearly under stress as she battled to pass and receive the stone.
On a Friday, it is 20:00 GMT. Wuntuma's pass signifies the stone has made a complete journey.
She nods affirmatively and grins at her mother, who asked if Wuntuma had taken a bath in a quiet voice.
Kur jen jen.
She reacts to Napari's Kur Wuntuma.
Wun’nti covers her head with her hand to reduce the impact of the blows.
In a split second, she appears lost and gathers a second stone in front of her.
The 15-year-old knows she did not have to let a second stone land in front of her.
She runs towards home to get the mats spread in her father’s compound for the family.
The second, third and all subsequent passes run smoothly.
Every player is keeping an eye on the stones.
Any blink and a fistful of blows will land on you before you exit.
“Kura ya…kura ya…kur jen jen” gained popularity when international streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr visited Ghana as part of the Speed Does Africa tour.
Under the leading chants of 'Kura ya Kura ya' by Hamamat, the owner of the Shea Butter Museum in Accra, ladies are seen responding 'kur jen jen' while massaging the 21-year-old streamer with 100 per cent shea butter.
