Mancala
Mancala is a game that has been played by many children over the years. It is
a “counting and capturing” game believed to have originated over 7,000 years
ago. It has many names, depending on where it is being played in. In Ghana it is
known as “Oware” Carved from gold and ivory it has been a game played by
the Asante kings. Whether scratched out of a patch of dirt, or carved in wood, it
has been used as an educational tool for children in Africa for over a thousand
years.
How to play:
Place 4 counters in each cup. Face your opponent and decide who will go first
(rock, paper, scissors, youngest child first). Player One begins by picking up all
the counters in one cup and moving counter clockwise; place the counters one
at a time into the other cups on the board. Counters must be placed into your
own larger “goal”, and then continue to your opponents side until all counters
are gone. Counters are never put in your opponent’s goal. This signals the end
of Player One’s turn and Player Two repeats the process.
If a counter gets placed in an empty cup, that Player gets to “capture” the
counters on the opposite side and put them in their goal.
The game is over once a player has 6 empty circles on their side. The winner is
determined by counting all counters that have been placed in each goal.
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How to make your own Oware board
Materials Needed:
Egg carton
48 counters-beads, beans, small rocks
Paint or markers
Glue
How to make it:
Cut the lid and extra tab off your egg carton and then cut the lid in half. Glue
one piece of the lid to each side, leaving some space for a “goal” to collect
counters. Decorate and make as colorful as you would like.
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