Traditional mancala games

thumb|A game of awale Oware is an abstract strategy game among the mancala family of board games (pit and pebble games) played worldwide with slight variations as to the layout of the game, number of players and strategy of play. Its origin is uncertain, but it is widely believed to be of Ashanti origin.

board game

mancala game

Lamlameta is a traditional mancala game played by the Konso people living in the Olanta area of central Ethiopia. It was first described in 1971 by British academic Richard Pankhurst. It is usually played by men. The name "Lamlaleta" means "in couples".

thumb|250px|A fish shaped pallankuli board Pallanguli, or Pallankuli (, , , , , ), is a traditional ancient mancala game played in South India, especially Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This game was later introduced to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in India, as well as Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The game is played by two players, with a wooden board that has fourteen pits in all (hence, it is also called fourteen pits, or pathinālam kuḻi. There have been several variations in the layout of the pits, one among them being seven pits on each player's side. The pits contain cowry shells, seeds or small pebbl

traditional Turkish mancala game

board game

Ba-awa is a variant of the game of mancala originating in Ghana. Although played in some of the same regions as Oware, it is simpler and in traditional societies is considered a game for women and children. Ba-awa is related to games j'erin and obridjie played in Nigeria. It is also similar to mancala game anywoli played at the Ethiopian-Sudanese border.

Adji-boto is a traditional mancala game played by the Saramaccans, i.e., the Maroons who live on the banks of the Saramacca river, in Suriname. It is similar to some mancalas played in West Africa, especially Benin, and could be regarded as a variation of the Wari game, which is the most common mancala game found in the Americas.

abstract strategy board game in India

Hawalis is a traditional mancala game played in Oman as well as Zanzibar, where it is known as Bao la Kiarabu, with slightly different rules. It is closely related to African mancalas such as Bao (Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya), Njomba (Mozambique and Malawi), Lela (DR Congo), Mulabalaba (Zambia), Muvalavala (Angola) and Tschuba (South Africa, Mozambique).

German mancala game