Qale: An introduction to a potential Olympics sport

By Galfato Wonago 

Qale is a fascinating game played by Sidama children with a real potential to become an Olympics sport and this is an overview of this wonderful game.

Qale is a game of precision that requires excellent hand-eye coordination while dealing with multiple variables. Qale has very simple rules with minor regional variations. However, the number one rule is to play safe and have fun.

The materials required to play qale include: 1) A hoop (about 8-10 inch in diameter) made of wooden sticks and fibres from Enset plant or other plants, and 2) Siiqqo (‘javelin’)—this is a wooden stick with sharpened tips. Sometimes the siiqqo has wooden shaft and a metal tip. However, wooden siiqqo with a sharpened tip is the most common material used.

The game can be played by two players or two teams of 2-12 members depending on the size of the playing field. The game starts with team1 throwing the hoop across the field and all team2 players attempting to arrest the hoop by passing the siiqqo through the hoop and landing it such that its tip is securely in the ground. The shaft of the siiqqo is expected to form more than 15 degree angle with the ground to be considered a successful landing, hence a valid qale. If the siiqqo passes through the hoop and lands flat on the ground with or without the hoop, the qale is not valid. The player who arrests (stops) the hoop (i.e. valid qale) marks his position by rubbing the ground with his heel. This position is used for the free throw. That means, a player from the opposing team makes three free throws to land siiqqo inside the arrested hoop. If one of the three siiqoes securely lands inside the hoop alongside team2’s siiqqo, team 1(the challenger) scores one point. Otherwise, team2 keeps its score (one point). The game continues with team2 throwing the hoop across the field and team1 attempting to arrest it. In other words, the game continues with one team throwing the hoop and the other team attempting to arrest it, each team taking turn to assume one role or the other. Each score (point) is worth a siiqqo. That means, if team1 scores a point, it takes one siiqqo from team2, or vis versa. The team that has more points (seized siiqqoes) at the end of the game wins the game.

To appreciate any game one has to understand the degree of difficulty of playing the game and the skills needed to win it. To successfully arrest the hoop, the player has to consider 1) the speed and direction of the hoop and 2) the trajectory of the ‘javelin’ (siiqqo). In other words, qale is a challenging and joyful game that demands more athletic ability than many Olympic sports. Although a tremendous amount of time, energy, and resources are required to make qale internationally known game, it has a huge potential to be an Olympics sport.

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