Mancala: A History

The name “Mancala” is given to a family of strategy games that are played across the African continent, and which have spread across the globe. It may originally have come from ancient Sumeria. The word “mancala” comes from the Arabic word, “naqala”, which means “to move”.

Mancala is essentially a game in which players "sow" and "capture" seeds. This process wasn't always played for fun; in fact, according to some historians, Mancala may have been an ancient record-keeping technique. According to another theory, Mancala originated as a ritual related to the harvest, or may even have been a tool for divination.

In some interpretations, the game board represents the world and is best laid in alignment with the rising and setting sun, east to west. The seeds or stones are the stars and the holes are the months of the year. Moving the seeds represents the gods moving through time and space and Mancala predicts our fate.

According to some historians, Mancala may have originated with the dawn of civilization. There is limited evidence that the game was played 5,000 years ago in ancient Sumeria (modern day Iraq). The first evidence of the game is a Mancala board from the 4th century AD found in Abu Sha'ar, a late Roman legionary fortress on the Red Sea coast and upper Nile River in Egypt.

There is further evidence that Mancala games were played in ancient Egypt before 1400 BCE. Evidence for this theory is available in the form of holes in the ground discovered in Egyptian temples at Tebas, Karnak, and Luxor.

The game can be played by simply scratching holes into the ground, so if you fall in love with this game, you can play virtually anywhere using pebbles, or any small items.

Our version of Mancala is modeled on games found in Aksumite Ethiopia dating to between the years 500 and 700 CE. It features a large image of the Ethiopian cross in the Mancala stores, and a smaller version in the pits on one side of the board. A Christian symbol, the Ethiopian cross is characterized by elaborate latticework, which represents everlasting life. The star image is an emblem of Ethiopia. It is featured on the modern flag of the country.

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Mancala: How to Play

There are many different variations of this ancient game. Humanity has had thousands of years to create new rules for this simple game.

The object of the game is to capture more stones than your opponent.

How to Play

1. The Mancala board is made up of two rows of six holes, or pits, each. Four stones are placed in each of the 12 holes. The color of the pieces is irrelevant. 2. Each player has a store (called a Mancala) to the right side of the board. The game begins with one player picking up all of the pieces in any one of their pits. 3. Moving counter-clockwise (to the right), the player deposits one of the stones in each hole, until the stones run out. 4. If you run into your own store, deposit a piece in it. If you run into your opponent's store, skip it. 5. If the last piece you drop is in your own store, you get a free turn, & get to repeat step 3. 6. If the last piece you drop is in an empty hole on your side, you capture that piece and any pieces in the hole directly opposite. They go into your Mancala at the end of the board. That is the only way to capture stones. 7. Always place all captured pieces in your store. 8. The game ends when all six spaces on one side of the Mancala board are empty. 9. The player who still has pieces on his side of the board when the game ends captures all of those pieces.

Count all the pieces in each store. The winner is the player with the most pieces.

Strategies for Winning at Mancala

• If you are going first, starting with your third hole is generally considered to be the best opening move. • As the second move on your turn, when going first, a good move is to play from your rightmost or second-rightmost hole. • Empty your rightmost hole early in the game.

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