Taba Naba – traditional song, new game!

It’s usually around this time of the year that I start getting bored with the games I am using with my Year 7 & 8 classes. (Note that I say “I get bored – not THEY get bored? We get tired of things much faster than our students do. Still it’s nice for us to have variety too!)

So here’s a great Torres Strait Islander song that you may already know with new actions!

(Scroll down for more resources for “Taba Naba”)

Game instructions: students sit in a single circle with their legs crossed.

Pattern 1

Beat 1              Lean to left and tap left hand on floor in front of left neighbour

Beat 2              Tap left hand on floor in front of own left knee

Beat 3              Tap right hand on floor in front of own right knee

Beat 4              Lean to right and tap right hand on floor in front of right neighbour

Beats 5 to 8     Repeat in reverse direction

Repeat for rest of song.

Pattern 2

Beat 1              Place right hand on left shoulder

Beat 2              Place left hand on right shoulder

Beats 3 & 4     Clap own hands twice

Repeat for rest of song.

Pattern 3

Beat 1              Tap both hands on floor in front

Beat 2              Tap hands on own thighs

Beat 3              Clap hands together

Beat 4              Cross hands and tap onto opposite shoulders

Repeat for rest of song.

Pattern 4

Beat 1              Brush right hand on top of left hand (as if clapping then sliding off forwards)

Beat 2              Clap right hand onto of left hand

Beat 3              Left hand to left thigh

Beat 4              Right hand to right thigh

Beats 5 to 8     Repeat in reverse direction

Repeat for rest of song.

Game Instructions © Deborah Smith

More Resources about “Taba Naba”

Click here for Christine Anu singing “Taba Naba”

Click here for a video showing primary aged children performing the original actions.

Click here to have a look at the Wikepedia Page about “Taba Naba”

Click here for a facebook page ALL about “Taba Naba”