Apples and Oranges

Apples and Oranges is a synthesis and redesign of two experiential exercises, BaFá BaFá (Shirts 1994) and Barnga (Thiagarajan 1990), that seeks to accomplish many of the same objectives in a much shorter time period (a 40-75-minute class session) and uses readily available materials. As in BaFá BaFá, participants are divided into two “cultures” with different sets of rules, one emphasizing being part of a close, affectionate family, the other stressing competition for wealth. As in Barnga, playing cards are used to play a game, but the rules are different for the two groups.