Mancala Across Oceans

No other ancient strategy board game including Chess, Go, Backgammon, Chapur, or Shogi has been as widely dispersed or flourished in as many cultures throughout the world as Mancala. The game has been played in a variety of versions across all of Africa, much of Oceania; Asia, and parts of the mid-East, Europe, the Caribbean, South and North America. Its levels of game play range from simple to incredibly complex. Modern mathematicians studying certain types of four row versions of mancala have found its strategies of play to be as advanced and complicated as chess and go.

Over 300 separate types mancala games have been identified and categorized throughout the world Mancala World (Wiki) – see Appnedix.

Among the earliest evidence of the game are fragments of a pottery board and several rock cuts found in Eritrea and Ethiopia that archaeologists date to the 6th and 7th century AD. However, the “sowing” aspect of the game moves characteristic to Mancala relate to agricultural activity and may date the game play to the beginnings of civilizations.