Traditional Ghanaian game

Pilolo

Pilolo (“time to go and search”)

Hide sticks, sound the alarm, and race to find them first.

Players: 3+ playersAges: Ages 6+Where: Outdoors · sticks or everyday objectsTime: 15–30 minutes

Playable now

Play Pilolo here — shout PILOLO, then search

Round 1/3Found 0

The hider is stashing sticks… shout PILOLO when ready!

Seekers, look away… the hider is working.

Best on this device: 0/18

Pilolo is Ghana’s beloved searching game. One player hides sticks (or bottle tops, stones, anything small) while the rest wait with their backs turned. On the shout of “pilolo!”, everyone dashes off to find them.

It mixes hide-and-seek with a treasure hunt and a footrace — the seeker who finds the most hidden objects wins, and the hider takes pride in fiendish hiding spots.

The rules

1One player is chosen as the hider; the rest are seekers who close their eyes or look away.
2The hider hides several small objects (traditionally short sticks) around the play area.
3The hider shouts “pilolo!” to release the seekers.
4Seekers race to find as many hidden objects as they can.
5Each object found scores one point for its finder.
6Most points after an agreed number of rounds wins; the winner often becomes the next hider.

How to play & win

1Gather 3 or more players and agree on boundaries for hiding.
2Pick the hider — youngest player, or by counting-out rhyme.
3Hiders: think like a seeker — eye-level spots get checked first, so go low, high, or inside things.
4Seekers: spread out fast at the shout instead of following the crowd.
5Search systematically in zones so you don’t re-check the same bush five times.
6Keep found objects visible in your hand so the count stays honest.

The cultural story

Pilolo has been played in Ghanaian neighbourhoods for generations and is often a child’s first lesson in observation and memory. In 2019 it inspired a popular Ghanaian children’s book, and community “Pilolo” scavenger events are now organised in Accra as heritage play for a new generation.

Follow Pilolo stories in Ghana news →

Pilolo FAQs

How do you play Pilolo?

One player (the hider) hides small sticks or objects while the seekers look away, then shouts “pilolo!”. Seekers race to find them; each find scores a point and the most points wins.

What do you need to play Pilolo?

Almost nothing: a few sticks, stones or bottle tops, an outdoor space with hiding spots, and three or more players.

What does “pilolo” mean?

It is the release call the hider shouts — roughly “time to go and search” — which sends all seekers dashing off at once.