Ebikoikyo – Riddles

Ebikoikyo – Riddles in Bunyoro-Kitara

Riddles are a common feature of Bunyoro-Kitara intellectual and social life. At the time when there was no social networking websites like facebook, Instagram, twitter, video games, riddles were shared with children at home in the evenings after dinner, in schools during circle time, and during community events and celebrations.

Even up to today, riddles continue to have benefits to those who know and use them. Riddles entertain people and help them improve their intellectual humor. Riddles relax the brain, improve problem solving skills, riddles expand one’s vocabulary and increase one’s ability to understand the context. They also create opportunities for imagination.

When riddles are used, people have the chance to ask questions about the words they do not understand. Riddles are a teaching opportunity as people learn new vocabulary and things in the social setting. Riddles provide opportunities for parents to bond with their children.

Here are some of the common riddles in Bunyoro-Kitara. The narrator says Koikoi and the listener responds Rukwebe. Then the narrator says the *first part* of the riddle in the Koikoi column below and the listener gives the answer in the Rukwebe column. Now enjoy these riddles.