{"id":43025,"date":"2024-03-03T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitmycolombia.com\/tejo-colombias-explosive-traditional-game\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T12:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:48:18","slug":"tejo-colombias-explosive-traditional-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visitmycolombia.com\/en\/tejo-colombias-explosive-traditional-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Tejo: Colombia’s explosive traditional game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Colombia, a land of diversity and cultural richness, is home to a fascinating traditional game called Tejo, a kind of Colombian-style p\u00e9tanque<\/strong>. Deeply rooted in Colombianhistory and tradition<\/strong>, Tejo offers a unique experience for intrepid travelers in search of adventure and discovery. <\/p>\n\n

Join us as we explore the origins<\/strong>, rules<\/strong> andcultural impact<\/strong> of this iconic Colombian sport, which continues to bring people together around competition, camaraderie and the celebration of Colombian culture.<\/p>\n\n

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Wooden board(tablero de madera<\/em>) \/ Photo by fabulousfabs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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The origins of tejo: a history dating back to pre-Columbian civilizations<\/h2>\n\n

Long ago, long before the noise of cars and the lights of cities filled the air of Colombia, there was a game, a tradition among the indigenous<\/strong> peoples of the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyac\u00e1<\/strong>. This game was Turmequ\u00e9<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

Imagine, over 500 years ago, in the fertile lands where the town of Turmequ\u00e9 (from which the name of the game derives) once stood, a vibrant center of life and exchange. The Muiscas<\/strong>, the indigenous peoples of these lands, used to gather here for many things: trading products, bartering, but also for something very special – sporting competitions. Among these was the game of Turmequ\u00e9. <\/p>\n\n

At the heart of this tradition was a precious, shiny gold disc<\/strong> called \u201czepguagoscua\u201d. This disc, obtained by bartering with other regions of the country, was the centerpiece of the game. It wasn’t played by just anyone, but by the caciques<\/strong>, the \u201cimportant people\u201d of the town, the people of upper Turmequ\u00e9. The Muiscas skilfully threw the disc onto a dirt pitch, trying to explode the \u201cmechas\u201d – gunpowder balls introduced by the Spanish Conquistadores – which were laid out on the pitch. <\/p>\n\n

A myth of the time <\/strong>is that when the Spaniards arrived and discovered the <\/strong>polygamy of the natives – and in particular of the caciques, who could have more than one wife – they expressed their categorical disagreement<\/strong> with such an ideology<\/strong> which, moreover, contradicted all Christian thought. This is why the Spaniards decided to use shuffleboard as a decisive element in converting<\/strong> the monogamous<\/strong> caciques; this was done through a contest<\/strong> between all the caciques’ wives, and the one who won kept the cacique. <\/p>\n\n

The game has evolved<\/strong> over time. The golden disc gave way to a metal one, but the spirit of competition remained. Today, it’s called Tejo<\/strong>. Players compete, individually or in teams, to see who can blow the most wicks and win the game. <\/p>\n\n

And Tejo isn’t just a Colombian affair. No, it has traveled beyond our borders<\/strong>, to Ecuador, Venezuela, and even Spain, Mexico, the USA and Peru. Colombian champions<\/strong> compete against others in a competition that transcends borders and eras, carrying with them the legacy of their Muiscas ancestors. <\/p>\n\n

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Metal ring(boc\u00edn<\/em>) and powder wicks(mechas<\/em>) \/ Photo by Luis Perez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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Tejo today<\/h2>\n\n

In the 1960s, shuffleboard was formalized as one of Colombia’s national sports, and in 2000<\/strong> it was elevated to the status of national sport<\/strong>. It now has its own anthem and official rules, offering a variety of playing methods for top-level competitions. <\/p>\n\n

For Colombians, Tejo is more than just a game; it’s central to their cultural identity. It embodies thespirit of camaraderie<\/strong>, friendly competition and celebration<\/strong> that characterizes Colombian culture. Tejo matches are often accompanied by traditional music<\/strong>, creating an immersive experience for participants and spectators alike. Tejo is also known as \u201cbolo a\u00e9reo\u201d, \u201cturmequ\u00e9\u201d or \u201cjuego explosivo\u201d (explosive game). <\/p>\n\n

At the heart of the practices and rules that animate Tejo, there is a sacred tradition, an indisputable truth that unites the players: the generous consumption of beer<\/strong>. It’s an unspoken obligation, an integral part of the experience of those who devote themselves to this ancestral sport (at a non-professional level, of course). So every popular tejo center will also have its own bar service. <\/p>\n\n

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