Many Rules, More Names, One Gameby Morgan Garcia
Mankala, known in Uganda as Mweso, is one of the oldest, most widely played games in the world. With more than 103 known versions- from the Caribbean to Sri Lanka -and at least as many names, Mankala is truly an international pastime.
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The game is played on a board pitted with small holes or simply on a make-shift game board dug into the ground. The small holes are arranged in rows; two or four rows of six holes. The holes always come in multiples of 12, a product of the many African religions that pay homage to 12 ancestors. Two to four small seeds, beads or rocks are placed in each hole as playing pieces. Some cultures use cowrie shells or dung balls, which often symbolize financial assets such as cattle. Its name means ‘to move something around,’ which basically describes how the game is played around the world. Mankala game boards are usually carved from local wood. Different cultures create boards that reflect their traditions: from boats to animal and human figures. Many Congolese boards |
feature intricate versions of caryatids - people crouched or on their backs, holding the boards at table level. These traditional carvings make the game boards desirable commodities in art markets. Antique boards can fetch more than $100 from an appreciative buyer.
Researchers believe that Mankala may have begun as an accounting system similar to the abacus in northern Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally, it is played in the dry season, when there is little work to be done. It is also played outdoors and during the day – only rulers and divinities can play the game after dark.
Mankala instills a sense of calm in its players, much like meditation and reminiscent of Buddhist prayer beads. The small pieces create a rhythmic sound as they fall into place and their smoothness provides stress relief. Many players emphasize the fact that the game’s timelessness makes them feel as though they are returning to their human roots.
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Nothing is left to chance in the game of Mankala. Planning and strategy are highly important for anyone who wants to win. The counting and concentration involved help children learn mathematical skills and serve to illustrate the life skill of forward planning. When one sees adults playing, the game looks more involved than chess. It may appear that one player is on the verge of winning when – just five minutes later – he or she has lost. Although the game’s rules vary from place to place, winning always means capturing as many of the opponent’s seeds as possible – enough to prevent them from making any more moves. During the game, the small pieces are moved by taking a hole full of them and dropping them one by one on the player’s side of the board. When the final piece lands in an empty hole, or adjacent to a full hole on the opponent’s side, depending on the particular game, the player then “eats” the opponents pieces by taking them onto his or her side and continuing to play. Strategy is developed by counting pieces on both sides, predicting where the final one will land and preventing the other player from capturing pieces as well. The game itself is extremely entertaining. It is equally popular in American summer camps and in the forests of Africa. In addition to its value as a pastime, the game boards make eccentric and |
possibly valuable decorations. Learn Mankala from someone here in Uganda or find rules for certain versions on the internet. Mankala can add to your home décor while giving you something to do on rainy Ugandan afternoons.
