Description

Mankala board game, Ajua/ Bao

Mancala is a family of traditional board games that have been played for centuries in various cultures around the world. The board typically consists of two rows of holes or pits. Each player has a row of pits. Larger pits at either end of the board used to collect captured pieces. Each player has one store. Each player places a predetermined number of pieces in each of their pits. The objective is to capture more pieces than the opponent. The game typically ends when one player’s pits are empty. Players take turns picking up all the pieces from one of their pits and distributing them one by one into the following pits in a counterclockwise direction. The player with the most pieces in their store at the end of the game wins. Mancala games are more than just pastimes; they are often integrated into cultural practices, education, and socialization. They have been used to teach counting, strategy, and social skills in various cultures.