Since there are over 50 countries in Africa, it stands to reason that there will be a lot of differences when it comes to hobbies! Just like many other continents, there are some hobbies that seem to have variations that everyone plays, local hobbies, and some that take place online too!

There are also a lot of traditions across Africa that have weaved their way into many of the different hobbies, including music, beadwork and textiles, sculptures, dance, and art.

A report published in 2017 outlines many of the most enjoyed hobbies ranging from safaris to gold and from car collecting to playing casino games like the Starburst slot online!

Oware

Gaming is a big deal, and one of the most enjoyable games and most played are the ones that involve skill and strategy. Oware is one of the most popular pebble-and-pit games.

The board had 12 dips (houses), and each player had 24 seeds or pebbles. Each of the houses has four pebbles in it. Players take it, in turn, to move their stones into different holes in an anticlockwise direction. If there are 12 or more pebbles moving in a turn, the original house is skipped until the next house.

At no point can a player count or touch the stones to count them; they can only look. Any player who has no pebbles on their opponent’s side must place one there, or all of the stones that are in play will be owned by the player whose side they are on.

Check out this video for more: Oware for Beginners.

Car Collecting

For the wealthy in Africa, one of the biggest hobbies is collecting many beautiful cars. Since there is a growing number of billionaires in Africa, there are some garages that are kitted out with some of the most luxurious cars around. Some of the cars are limited runs; others are one-off commissions.

But it’s not just what we consider to be exotic cars that are collected; since the garage is now a place that can display massive wealth, classic and vintage cars from across the world find themselves in these collections.

Femi Otedola, a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, has some cars that are worth an eye-watering amount. His collection includes Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Mercedes SLR McLaren, and a G-Wagon.

Sport

There are three sports that have huge popularity across Africa, cricket, rugby, and football. But there are other sports that are seeing an increase in popularity in recent years.

Basketball has always been popular but doesn’t find its way into the top three. Golf, hiking, and mountaineering have seen an increase in popularity. While cycling is something that people often consider to be a Western pastime, cycling has become a rapid-growth hobby.

What makes Africa great for cycling is that it has a diverse range of routes, from vineyards to city streets. The Cape Town Cycle Tour sees over 35,000 cyclists meet to cycle through stunning scenery.

Cricket is very popular in South Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and Kenya. It wasn’t long ago that only white people were allowed to play cricket due to the apartheid policy, but now anyone can play – and they do!

Online gaming

The gaming world is big and booming across the globe, and Africa is no exception. Card games have moved from around the table to on mobile, and some of the most popular are Go Fish and Rummy – and with a side of poker too! In keeping with the love of sports, FIFA is one of the most played online games in Africa.

PUBG (Player Unknown Battlegrounds) has seen a significant increase in its player base across the globe, and since stable internet has become more common, these types of fast-paced games are more accessible, and that has led to a huge bump in popularity.

Art

Art falls into two categories when it comes to hobbies. One is that the wealthy people of Africa collect prized pieces, and the other is that art of all forms has a deep cultural meaning. Creating artwork, sculptures, beadwork, and other things have specific meanings.

The image of a mother and child, a couple, or a person with a weapon or an animal are common themes.

Creating and purchasing artwork is a big hobby in Africa. It’s not just artwork in terms of images that are popular hobbies, writing poems, and music. There is a skill that can be passed from generation to generation: the ability to sing both traditional songs and modern culture.

Learning to play traditional instruments as a form of musical expression and to take part in celebrations and events starts early in life and is a hobby that carries on throughout life.

Africa has a wide range of hobbies, and these are just a few of the biggest.