Console or hide-and-seek? In Cameroon, digital games are replacing traditions 🎮

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The joyful shouts of chifoumi, foot without a ball, marbles, or tag are fading in Cameroon. Instead, children’s eyes are glued to screens: PS4, phones, tablets. Candy Crush, PUBG, Dream League Soccer, or Free Fire have taken over schoolyards. Digital games are seductive, fascinating, and are gradually replacing traditional ones.

From Tree Huts to Game Controllers 🕹️

In the ‘90s and 2000s, all it took was a few sticks and a patch of sand to start a game of njou, checkers, or wouri. Today, a phone is enough. Even kids in rural areas are adapting. Thanks to their parents’ phones—or those lent by older siblings—they discover mobile games and often get hooked more than on their homework.

“My little brother doesn’t know how to play musical chairs. But he can sit still for two hours playing Subway Surfers on my phone. He knows all the hazards in the game, the bonuses, the combos—things I can’t even explain,” says Cynthia, a journalist.

Less Sand, More Pixels 📲

This shift in how children play reflects a broader digital transformation. With the falling cost of smartphones and the expansion of 3G/4G networks, online games are more accessible than ever. Apps like Ludo King and platforms like the App Store, Play Store, or even Telegram make these games available to all.

“There are endless online games. I’d run out of breath trying to name them all. Kids with tablets or phones today will never know what it feels like to play Ndorchi, slap games, or I Have a Backache. We’re becoming less human for the sake of tech—without realizing we can’t turn back,” laments Aristide.

In some neighborhoods, kids now hang out… each glued to their own screen. Gone are the team fights on empty lots or victory cheers from a well-aimed rock. The battlefield has moved online, and winning is all about digital scores.

A Tradition Losing Ground 🪀

For teachers and parents, the observation is bitter. Even in schoolyards, traditional games are fading. In fact, some big schools now provide tablets during recess.

“We’re seeing a form of desocialization. Kids are less likely to learn conflict resolution, cooperation, or creative thinking like they did with traditional games,” regrets Mr. Mbida, a schoolteacher.

Some parents still try to preserve these games, introducing their kids to awale, marbles, or the hoop game. But screens often win.

“You roll the hoop with your son, two minutes later he’s back on his phone. Says he’s tired. Prefers to slowly fry his brain in front of a smartphone,” sighs a mother.

Digital Play Isn’t All Bad 👍

That said, not everything about digital gaming is negative. It can help with reflexes, focus, and even teach English or math depending on the app. In some cases, it opens up kids to the wider world. Experience shows “Android kids” are more curious than their predecessors.

“There is good too. My child started singing ‘ABCD’ at age two, just because I had installed kids’ apps with songs and voices on my phone. I think it’s just about limiting screen time to avoid the worst,” says Fabien, a father.

Educational initiatives like EduGames Africa aim to combine fun and learning. Other apps promote Cameroonian culture through quizzes, riddles, and interactive tales.

Toward a Balanced Playground? ⚖️

That’s probably the real challenge: finding balance. Encouraging kids to run, jump, and get dirty, while also introducing them smartly to the digital world. Some children’s camps now organize Traditional Games Wednesdays to teach kids to play… without Wi-Fi.

Because even if they’re thrilled by a video game, children can still find joy in a simple game of slingshot or hide-and-seek. All it takes is some sand, a few friends… and an adult to show them fun doesn’t always live inside a screen.

Your turn !!
What games have you shared with the children around you—or discovered thanks to them? Tell us in the comments 😌