In a recent series of recollections on his Facebook page, Kenneth Anam has been sharing playful moments and adolescent mischiefs from his secondary school days. Over the past couple of days, he has talked about happenings at the Federal Government College, Ikom, with the latest being the “Kolo and Beat” game taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Read his testimony below 👇 👇
Back in my college days at FGC IKOM, male hostel existed a very deadly game.
The Kolo & Beat game, played by students in a higlepede and random manner.
The game was mainly played with an empty body cream container.
The Kolo & Beat game began slowly from an arena in the hostel called the “Big Passage”.
The Big Passage was a square entrance in every hostel that served as an entrance to the main hostel rooms with a perforated brick wall at one end, dividing the hostel from the Box Room, Laundry Room, Toilets and Bathrooms area.
The Kolo & Beat game had only one rule, every player scrambles for the ball (empty cream container), often the “La Familia” lotion cream container kicking it in a random motion.
While every player struggles to kick the ball, anyone who was unlucky to have the ball pass through his legs (Kolo) is targeted and beaten to stupor.
This deadly game soon garnered widespread patronage that the big Passage area couldn’t contain the players anymore.
So a new arena was established, the “COURT ANGLE”, a large open space outside the hostel halls.
The Blue House-Yellow House court angle space was most favourable this game since the Green House-Pink House court angle was notorious for general prayers and mass thrashing.
The kingpins of this evil game were pink house boys, Engr. Edem Obo a.k.a Naked gods, Dr. Ayei Ibiang a.k.a Inuenus , Izato Eric a.k.a Lord gang-gang, of course some blue and yellow house boys Thomas Ogodo a.k.a Chiefson, Patrick Kish Ogar a.k.a Kaka chin up.
So on this fateful day, there was this blue house boy whose name I could not imnediadely place, his nickname was “NWANU TEAR THE SHIRTUU”.
Nwanu tear the shirtuu had a very massive bow lake that could pass for an ox-bow lake illustration, even when he stands at attention one could easily still figure out a letter C shape.
in a very hot afternoon, returned from classes and met us playing the enticing KOLO & BEAT game and immediately jumped out to join.
Long story short, the nigga was barely 2 minutes into the game when the ball was sloted pass his bow legs and all hell let loose.
In most cases in the Kolo & Beat game, we had players who were very fast and swift that they could run and escape the mob when the ball went in between their legs.
This was not the case with brother Nwanuu. He didn’t even have the legs to stop the ball from penetrating his bow legs, let alone run away from the mob.
Guess what followed ? Your guess is as good as mine because Fedikom Boys were mean and didn’t have any oita of pity or consideration for his predicament as they pounced on him.
Beat am, hold am, obtain am, who been send am come join filled the air with slaps, blows and knocks.
Barr. Benjamin Joseph Edet a.k.a PRIMOROSO and Ejama Brendan a.k.a EKRANG were pros in sneaking and forcing the ball in between people’s legs even if you were tying a long wrapper.
I used to think I was a strong man until I witnessed how people were beaten mercilessly in the Kolo & Beat game, then I said to my self Kenneth, this is not your calling.
So I always loiter on the verandah of the hostel while the game went on without joining, but will dash in to pounce on victims during the rush of beatings and retire to my spectator stand thereafter.
I don’t know if this game still exists at the college ? Is there any memory you’ll love to share do well to add to the comment box.
By: Kenneth Anam
