Akacha-Nai

Akacha-Nai is a very popular ancient Chamori game played by the Famagu'on (children or young adults). This is a game of hand slapping between two players. Coordination, speed and stamina are required since the players are situated distance apart by demarcation lines. Bengga-Nai, another popular Chamori game is often used to determine who the "Slapper" and who the "Slappee" will be to initiate the game.

The Chamori people were a stylish but creative lot, with a profound sense of competitive adventure.

Rules of Play

One player (the slapper) hovers their hands closely below those of the other player for a predetermined time (the countdown). This time can be counted down by both players, by one player, or be determined in other ways. Periods of about ten to fifteen seconds are common.

The goal of the game is to slap the hands of the other player, and the slapper may only do so once within the time period. The other player must use their reflexes to pull back their hands at the correct time. If the second player pulls their hands away too soon, the countdown stops, and the second player must place their hands back in the starting position, offering a perfect opportunity for the slapper to slap the other player's hands.

Typically on a successful slap the roles stay the same, but if the second player manages to dodge the slap, or the slapper does not perform a slap within the countdown, roles reverse.

This version can be played without a countdown, where the person slapping hits when they like, which provides uncertainty, and often trickery.

Counting is usually done in the language of the Taotao Tano': One (1) = Hacha, Two (2) Hugua and Three (3) = Tulu...