If you’ve ever heard the term ‘mancala’ before, it probably immediately makes you think of something. For many around the world, mancala refers to any of a series of different games that require strategy, thought and attention to detail.
These games are played in a range of different ways and with slightly different boards and rules. But there are a host of different ones, and they come from all parts of the world. They’re games that anyone can play, but it takes some time and effort to master. In North America, however, mancala refers to only a single game.
What is Mancala?
Mancala is a type of strategy game that pits two players against one another, no matter the size or type of board. It’s a game designed for those ages 8 and up and it comes in a range of different versions.
Each part of the world, however, has their own most popular version. These include Kalah in North America, Bao in East Africa, and Oware in West Africa and the Caribbean as a few examples. Different versions have ventured throughout the world, and some are definitely more well known in some areas than others.
The History of Mancala
Let’s take a look back a little further, at where Mancala actually comes from. To start with, the name comes from an Arabic word, which is naqala and means ‘to move’.
It makes sense when you think about the way the game is played and what you’re actually trying to do. Of course, from there the game is subdivided into hundreds of different varieties and versions that are each slightly different. Let’s look at the overall aspects of the game for now.
It’s believed the game came from somewhere around the Red Sea, with some of the earliest versions of mancala boards being found in regions like Al-Qurna, Karnak and Luxor which are located in modern day Egypt or what is now Eritrea and Ethiopia, with boards dating back as far as 500 to 700 AD.
With the simplicity of the original board design and the ease of playing the game, it’s likely that people have been playing it for thousands of years in different forms and the game has been passed on through generations.
Primarily found in regions of Africa, to begin with, the game managed to travel throughout regions of India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China as trade continued to occur throughout these areas and between different regions. It did not travel throughout Europe, however, it is found in some areas of the country, such as the Baltic region. Other areas do not seem to have adapted the game, though it later spread to North America by way of the slave trade and later by way of immigrants entering the country.
Mancala in North America
When it comes to other parts of the world, mancala is actually a very popular game and children and adults participate. The rules are taught to many, and they may learn several different versions.
In North America, however, the game isn’t quite as well-known and is generally not as popular. In fact, large amounts of the population don’t even know that the game exists or what it’s about. It seems that most find the game entirely by chance or by being introduced to it by someone older who has played it before. Even then, few people really understand what it is.
That doesn’t mean that people in North America aren’t playing, just that they’re getting far less immersion. As a result, in North America mancala is actually considered a singular game and many don’t even know that there are multiple versions.
How it’s Played
In North America, mancala is played on a rectangular board with 12 small holes and one large ‘bank’ on each end. Two players start with the same number of colored marbles in each of the 12 regular holes with an objective to clear out your side of the board and get as many pieces in your ‘bank’ as possible.
The gameplay is simple enough with each player choosing one of the holes on their side of the board to take all of the pieces out of and then sow one marble in each hole following until they run out of marbles. Play continues until one player has completely cleared their side of the board. The banks are then counted.
Trying Something New
If you’re looking for a game to play with your family or students, this one is really simple and it’s definitely one that you can pick up quickly. Even if you’re looking to play one of the different variations of this game, you can find the instructions and start figuring things out in no time. There are even instructions available online for making your own board using an egg carton with beans or marbles as playing pieces.