Awale: A Traditional West African Strategy Game
Played across West Africa under various names like Awele, Ayo, or Oware, Awale belongs to the Mancala family of games. This two-player strategy game shares similarities with East African variants such as Omweso, Bao, and Igisoro.
Game Components and Setup
The game features:
- 8 holes per player
- 64 seeds/stones
Each player controls the row of holes closest to their side of the board.
Objective
The primary goal involves capturing your opponent's seeds while preventing them from making subsequent moves. Strategic sowing and capturing determine victory.
Related Games
Other notable Mancala variants include:
- Ayo
- Kisoro
- Omweso
Historical Origins
Archaeological evidence suggests Mancala games likely originated in Ethiopia during the ancient Aksumite Kingdom civilization.