26. Colours of Africa: A trip to Ghana: Anyone for a game of Oware?

 Historical Background of the African Mathematical Board Game “Oware”:

Oware is an ancient African Mathematical Board Game of great antiquity and has been played around the World in various forms for millennia.

 Several civilizations/cultures have adopted this game for its simplicity and intricate strategic game play. It is one of the most wide-spread games in the “mancala” or “Mankaleh” variety of games – meaning a “game of great intelligence”. It helps develop mental agility, sharpens strategic thinking skills apart from being a fun game. Ghanaian children are taught this game, so as to interest them in learning Arithmetic.

This game has been known to have been played for almost 8000-10000 years.

It has been found to have been carved on a vast block of rock in the ancient city of Aleppo with two facing rows of six shallow pits with hollows scooped out of each end.

In a similar fashion, an urn painting of Ajax and Achilles playing the game during the Trojan War has also been discovered.

Also, during a walk organised by “Save the Rocks Society” of Hyderabad, (of which both Sumita and I were members), during one such walk, while going through the remnants of an ancient rock-fortification of a Hindu Kingdom garrison, I chanced upon a similar tell-tale markings of a similar “Board Game” carved upon a rock platform, perhaps by soldiers manning the garrison, sitting idly on watch duty and entertaining themselves with the game.

The Trans-Atlantic and Eastern Slave trade from Africa, took the Game to the Far East, Middle East, Asia, all over Africa and the Caribbean. Mongolian invasions took the game to territories in China and USSR.

Oware, the National Game of Ghana, West Africa:

“Oware” is considered to be the National Board Game of Ghana. Historically, in Ghana, Oware had a prominent role in Society (like Chess in India), and was played by the Kings of Ashanti and Denkyira on beautifully carved Ivory Boards in the shape of a stool embellished with gold (in keeping with the legend of how a golden stool fell from the skies for the Ashanti King to sit upon).

We have brought a few Kente weaves/strips from “Bonwire” village – the most prominent centre of Kente in Ghana (pronounced “Bonwaiyen”) during our Ghana visit, showing the Golden Stool, as mementos.

 Oware derives its name from “he/she marries” from a legend in “Twi”, the language of the Ashanti people about a man and a woman who played the game endlessly and were so addicted to it that they decided to get married so that they could stay together and go on playing their favourite game, as and when they wanted to play.

Spectators are encouraged to look at the game being played. So intense is the competition and the instinct to win, that in recreational play, spectators even discuss moves on the game in progress and advise the players. Thus, a game of Oware is also a focal point for people to meet and entertain themselves with a game of skill.

I was fascinated by a group of people watching an Oware Board game between two players, when Arvind (our friend with whom we were staying in Ghana in February 2013, whom the Ghanaians call “Mr. Arvin”) was getting some repairs done to his vehicle in Kumasi (the second largest City in Ghana) and decided to buy a Board Game for myself, which we did at the Arts and Crafts market at Accra (Capital of Ghana).

Various names given to “Oware” across the World:

Known by various names, this is an abstract strategy planning game, which most authorities hold is of Akan origin. While, in various versions, this is a popular game all over the World, it is played all over West Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

In West Africa and the Caribbean it is called “Ayo” (in Yoruba), “Awale” (in Cote d’Ivoire), “Wari” (in Mali), “Ouri” or “Ouril” (in Cape Verde), “Warri” (in the Caribbean). The Ewe people call it “Adji”, the Igbo call it “Ncholokoto”, while the Ga people call it “Awele”.

In Nigeria, the game is called “Ayo”, “Ayoayo”, “Jerin-jerin” and “Ayo J’duo”.

Some of the other names by which this game is known as are: “Abapa”, “Coo”, Coro”, “Tsoro”, “Gebata”, “Oko”, “Achara”, “Dara”, “Bawo”, “Omweso”, “Adita-Ta”, “Kasonko”, “Layo”, “Gebta”, “Schach”, “Ikiokoto”, “Igisoro”, “Walle”, “Lela”, “Adji-boto, “Marabout”,  “ Eson Xorgol”, “Toguz Xorgol” etc.

 It is called “Sungka” and “Congkak” in a version played in Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia and it has also been engraved on Malaysian coinage as a depiction of Malaysia’s National heritage, where the Game was brought by Arab Traders.

In India, it is a well known game in Southern India. In Tamil Nadu where it goes by the name “Pallaanguzhi” (in Tamil) or “Pallankkuzhi” (in Malayalam – Kerala). In the old Tulu language of coastal Karnataka, it is called “Arasaafa” or “the King’s game”. In Telugu, the language of Andhra Pradesh, it is known as “Vaamana guntalu” or “Vanagallapeetha”. In Kannada, the language of Karnataka, it is known as “Hallugunimane” and “Channamane”.

Varieties of Oware and similar Boards:

The Oware Boards are, either, elaborately carved or simple and functional.

Sometimes, the Board may be placed on a pedestal or simply be hinged , so as to fold lengthwise or cross-wise and may have a secure latch, so as to facilitate portability and keeping of the seeds inside without spilling them.

The Oware Board has two straight rows of six pits, each pit is called a “house”. The game is played with 48 seeds. Occasionally, the Board may have a larger “house” (pit) at either end of the Board for keeping “score” (seeds in the possession of each player). In other versions across the World, the number of “houses” may vary from 5 to 14 in two- rows, but six pits each is the most popular version.

An intricately carved giraffe on our Oware Board Game

The six "Houses"or "pits" in two rows and the seeds for playing

Parmita getting the Board ready for the next game

Caught unawares

 There is a three-row version of the game called “Gebeta” which is less popular and mostly played in Ethiopia and Eritrea in East Africa, while a four-row version called “Bao” is also quite popular.  

Each player manages the six “houses” on his/her side of the Board, as well as the “score house” at the end of his side (if it is available on the Board).

Scoring Houses may be placed elsewhere on the Board and sometimes, the Oware Board rows may not be straight.

If the Oware Board has a hinged cover, like a “diptych” (a diptych is derived from the Greek word “diptukha” meaning a “pair of writing tablets” and the word diptych means a painting on two hinged wooden panels, forming an altarpiece or a board), the scoring houses can be carved into the two halves of the cover itself, so as to be in front of the players during play.

Nevertheless, these store-houses are not really necessary as, in Oware, the captured seeds are removed from the Board and the captured seeds can be placed in front of the players behind the board.

The 48 “seeds” used for playing can be “nickernuts” (as in the Caribbean), “marbles”, “beads” or even “pebbles” and “cowrie shells”. The Board which we purchased in Ghana as a memento came with only 30 “seeds”, so we are using “Reetha” seeds to make up the 48 “men”.

Several Oware Games versions can also be played online on Personal Computers/laptops. A game similar to “Mancala” known as “Bantumi” has featured on Nokia phones.

Several International tournaments are held in the Caribbean (Antigua) and Europe (France, United Kingdom) and in West Africa (Ghana).

Rules:

Oware is the generic name with at least three versions being covered by this umbrella name.

Traditionally, the most popular set of Rules is the “Abapa Standard” variation which is known as the Adult’s version, while the children’s version is known as the “Nam-nam”. The third version is called the “Tampoudo”.

There are over 300 versions of this “pit-and-pebble” game all over the World, all of them having different rules. The several names of the Game and over 49 different languages have led to players identifying the wrong names with differing rules in Ghana.

Similar problems are faced by players all over Africa and the World. 

Nevertheless, the “Abapa Standard” version is the foremost version of this game in Ghana and West Africa.

The Game is played between two players. The objective is to “capture” more seeds than one’s opponent has captured. In other words, if one player has “captured” 25 seeds, he/she  has won the game. Sometimes, the game may end in a draw, if both players have captured 24 seeds each.

Sowing Seeds:

The game begins with four seeds in each of the twelve smaller houses (or with twenty-four seeds allotted to each player controlling the six “Houses” on his/her side).

The players take turns moving the seeds.

On a turn, a player chooses one of the six “houses” under his/her control and removes all the seeds from that house and distributes them, placing one in each of his/her opponent’s houses, counter-clockwise/anti-clockwise. This process is called “sowing” the seeds.

Legend :.( represents no. of seeds in each house)–(represents empty house).

A, B, C, D, E and F (represent the six houses).

A             B             C           D             E           F        (Player 1)

..    ..     .    ..    ...    .

...   .     ....   -  ......  ..     (Player 2)

Player 2 prepares to sow the seeds from house number “E” and places one  seed in his own house F and then  in the opponent’s house numbers F, E, D, C and B – moving counter-clockwise (But no seed  can be placed in House A of his opponent). The result of Player B’s move is as under.

 

A            B                C              D                  E                     F        (Player 1)

..   ...      ..     ...     ....       ..

...   .     ....     -        -        ...         (Player 2)

An important point to note is that seeds are not distributed/placed into the end scoring houses, nor in the house from which they have been drawn from.

In other words, the starting House E is left empty. If a house contained 12 seeds, it is skipped and the 12th seed is placed in the next house.

 Knowing the number of seeds in each house is important for skilfully playing the game, When there are many seeds in a house, sometimes enough to make a full lap of the Board or more, they cannot be easily counted by seeing and their number is guarded by the player who controls that house. This is done by repeatedly moving seeds into that house.

A player can count the seeds when contemplating a move. Usually, the last few seeds are counted in the hand, so as to avoid revealing their number to the opponent.

Capturing Seeds:

After a turn is completed, if the last seed placed into an opponent’s house brings the total number of seeds in that house to two or three, all the seeds in that house are captured and placed in the capturing player’s scoring house or set aside, if the Board has no scoring house.

If the previous to last seed also brought an opponent’s house to two or three, these are captured as well and so on.

Thus, seeds can be captured from every consecutive house on the opponent’s side whose seed total was brought to two or three on the player’s current turn.

Thus, Player 2 in the example given above can capture the seeds from the opponent’s B, C, and D houses, but not F, because B, C, D are consecutive houses, but not F i.e. it is not contiguous to the other captured houses.

However, if a move would capture all of the opponent’s seeds, the capture is forfeited and the seeds are instead left on the Board. This is a built-in safe-guard, otherwise, the opponent would not be able to continue the game.

Opponent’s safeguards:

The rule for not capturing all of an opponent’s seeds gives him a chance to continue playing. Also, if an opponent’s houses are all empty, the current player must play a move which gives the opponent seeds. If no such move is possible, the current player captures all seeds in his/her own side of the board and the game ends.

Who wins?

-      The game is finished when one player has captured 25 or more seeds.

-       Each player has taken 24 seeds and the game ends in a draw and no one wins.

-      Both players agree that the game has been reduced to an endless cycle, in which case, each player captures the seeds on the opponent’s side of the Board and the number of seeds in both players’ position decides the winner or draws the game.

“Grand Slam” variations:

A Grand Slam results in capturing all of an opponent’s seeds in one turn. There are a few variations to the rule that applies and is pre-decided by the players:

-      Grand slam captures are not legal moves, hence are excluded by the players.

-      Grand Slam moves are legal, but no capture is allowed. International competitions often follow this rule. 

-      Grand Slam captures are allowed, however, all remaining seeds on the Board are awarded to the opponent.

-      This move is legal, but the last or first house is not captured.

Playing Kongkak ( in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia):

1)   The “Kongkak” or “Congkak” board consists of two rows of 7 houses each and one storehouse at the end.

2)   At the beginning of the Game, the Houses are filled with 7 shells each while the store-house is empty.

3)   Both players begin simultaneously by scooping up all the shells in any house on their side. Each drops a shell into the next house and continues depositing one shell into every house thereafter, clockwise. A player deposits one shell into his store-house each time he passes it, but does not deposit any into his opponent’s store-house.

4)   How the game continues, depends on where the last shell of each scoop/move is deposited:

-      If the shell drops into the player’s own store-house: The player scoops up the shells from any of his/her houses and distributes them in the houses round the board, but not in his/her opponent’s storehouse.

-      If the shell drops into a House on either side of the Board , containing shells: The player scoops up all the shells in that house and continues distributing them as described above.

-      If the shell drops into the player’s house which is without shells: The player is entitled to collect the shells in his/her opponent’s house directly opposite to his/her own. These shells collected from his opponent’s house together with his last shell are deposited in his/her own storehouse. If the opponent’s house opposite his own is empty, he deposits only his last shell in his own storehouse. He/she forfeits his/her turn and stops playing. It is now his/her opponent’s turn to distribute the shells.

-      If the shell drops into an empty house belonging to the opponent: The player forfeits his turn and stops playing. He/she also forfeits his shell and leaves it in the opponent’s house. It is the opponent’s turn now to distribute the shells.

5)   The first round ends when a player has no more shells on his/her side.

6)   Play resumes in the second round with players redistributing shells from their own storehouse to their own houses: Beginning from left to right, seven shells are placed in each house. If a player does not have sufficient shells to fill his/her own houses, the remaining houses are left empty and are considered “burnt”. The leftover shells are deposited into his own storehouse. The opponent deposits excess shells he/she has won into his/her own storehouse.

7)   The “losing” player starts the second round: Play is continued as before, but, players will bypass “burnt houses” and drop no shells in them. If a shell is dropped by mistake in a burnt house, the shell is confiscated and placed in the opponent’s store-house.

8)   Play is continued until one player loses all his/her houses or concedes defeat.

Pallankuzhi is played with some variations in India:

The player chosen to play first, picks up all the seeds (“Tamarind” or “cowry shells”) from any house on his side of the Board and sows them counter-clockwise with “multiple laps”.

The holes/houses following the house where the last seed is sown determines the player’s next action.

The player begins to sow the seeds from any hole in his own side of the Board. After the last seed falls in any hole (empty or with contents), on either side of the Board, the player picks up the contents from the following house and begins a new lap.

The seeds are sown in the following houses till the last seed is sown in a hole followed by an empty house. This player’s turn is now over. He/she may be able to capture or not, which depends on whether the empty house is followed by a house containing seeds or not:

 Capture variations:

In the first case, the contents are captured from the house immediately after the empty house.

In the second case, no captures are made. Captures are made on either side of the Board.

There is a third method of capture : As play progresses,  some of the Houses will accumulate 4 seeds. Each player during the opponent’s turn immediately captures the groups of 4 that appear on his/her side of the Board during the course of a move.

 If any player forgets to capture 4 seeds that have accumulated in one or more houses on his/her own side and the fifth one is placed in it, this player can no longer capture the four seeds.

For the second round, each player uses the seeds captured in the previous round and fills as many houses as he/she can on his own side of the Board with 4 seeds in each hole, beginning from his/her own extreme left hand side.

If a player has captured only 14 seeds, by way of illustration, in the previous round, he/she puts 4 seeds each in the first 3 house on his own side and puts the remaining 2 into his store-house. His/her remaining empty Houses are called “rubbish houses”.

 In the next round, play continues as before, but without the rubbish holes being included and the player who went first in the previous round going second in the second round.

The players alternate turns in successive rounds until one player fails to win at least 4 seeds in a round and is unable to fill even one house.

(Article researched and written by Rajeev Prasad).

Links: 

1) Adinkra symbols of Ghana, West Africa 
2) Bosumchwe Meteor Crater Lake
3)  El Mina Slave Fort/Castle, Ghana, West Africa
4) History of Coins and Currency of Ghana
5) Mole National Park, Northern Region, Ghana, West Africa  
6) Larabanga mosque and the Mystic Stone
7)  Funerals are a celebration in Ghana
8) Food, culture and Music of Ghana
9) A visit to Ghana: An overview of our trip