Library of Things: Mancala

The Strategy Game from Around the World

Mancala is a game that dates back to the 6th century CE, and has many different names all over the world. In West Africa it is known as Oware, Warri, Awale, and Awele. In Angola it is called Kiela. Before wooden boards and marbles became more commonplace, Mancala was played using holes dug into the ground or beach, and anything from stones to seeds to sea shells were used as game pieces.

Though names and rules vary, the object of Mancala is that each player attempts to collect as many game pieces (seeds) as possible before the other player clears their pits of seeds.