General
ackee 1-2-3
What does ackee 1-2-3 mean?
A hide-and-seek/tag hybrid where 'it' counts, the rest scatter, and the chase is to beat them back to the safe zone. If they spot you and yell 'Ackee 1-2-3 [your name]' before you tag base, you're out. First one out is 'it' next round.
"We played ackee 1-2-3 round the back of the flats till the streetlights came on."
Origin
West Midlands playground staple, immortalised by Birmingham ska band The Beat in the early 80s. Distinctly Brummie — try to play it in London and nobody knows the rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is "ackee 1-2-3"?
It's a Birmingham variant of hide-and-seek where you have to reach the safe zone before the person who's "it" shouts your name.
How do you play ackee 1-2-3?
One player is "it" and the rest hide; you win by getting to the safe base before they spot you and call out your name.
Where is "ackee 1-2-3" from?
It's associated with Birmingham, England, as a local, brutal take on classic hide-and-seek.
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