A reflection game played in West Africa, known as Awale, Ayo, or Owele, is a member of the Mancala family of board games. It bears similarities to other traditional African games such as Omweso, Bao, and Igisoro found in East Africa.
Awale is typically played by two players on a board containing 8 holes per side, with a total of 64 balls—4 balls initially placed in each hole.
Each player’s territory consists of the row of holes closest to them. The primary objective of the game is to capture all or a significant portion of the opponent's balls, thereby preventing them from making any further moves.
As part of the broader Mancala family, related games include Ayo, Kisoro, Omweso, and others, each with its own regional variations and rulesets.
Historically, it is believed that Mancala games originated in Ethiopia during the time of the ancient Kingdom of Aksum. These games have since spread across Africa and beyond, evolving into numerous forms while maintaining their core strategic and reflective nature.
