1. It is believed that Awale is the oldest board game known.

Boards have been found with holes carved in stone in Egypt (the temples of Memphis, Thebes and Luxor) dating from 1400 BC). Also in ancient Sumeria. The first game to be considered most certainly Manqala is from the seventh century AC and was found in Ethiopia.

2. The “first man” was the first player awalé

For Masai comunity the first palyer was Sindillo, Maitoumba son, the first man.

3. Playing awalé after sunset brings bad luck …

In Ivory Coast is still preserved the legend that whoever plays the Oware after sunset will receive the worst curses.

4. Mancala games can be found worldwide

Manqala games are made up of hundreds of games that can be found scattered around the world.

5. To play you can not be selfish awalé

One of the principles of Awale is: “Who expects to receive, must learn to give.”

6. Awale is one of the very few games that no longer differences between the chips of his players

The chips of the Manqala (usually seeds) are undifferentiated, all the same type and do not belong to any player. Implementing the proverb “The Seeds are for the ones who need them. Who better sow better will harvest.”

7. No margin for error goes!

Take care not to rush the throw. Typically a tender trap for a novice player to capture a couple of leaving seeds without being aware that you give every facility to ensure that in the next run, the adversary will empty all you have in your field.

8. With awalé always learn new moves

Despite his simplicity all players should know that Oware is a game of shades. In every game players can discover new moves and this will make it interesting. No one can say that never can’t learn more about the Oware.

9. The Awale was used to prepare them before entering guerreros combate.

In Ghana, a long time ago, in only the dominant ethnic groups could play the Oware. They used to play chips made of gold and ivory. Normally they played before going to war to test their intelligence and mental abilities.

10. Krou technique is one of the most professional likes Awale

The technique of return, called Kroo, which is more like a professional Oware (requires skillful in the calculations).

Is to go slowly accumulating many seeds in a hole in our ground waiting for the opportune moment and make a complete revolution. The goal is to finally reap the seeds we have planted ourselves in the field opposite.

11. Awale is a type of mancala

Oware is the Manqala most widespread game in Africa but also in Europe.

12. Mancala means move

The word Manqala or Mancala means move. This word comes from Arabic, some linguistics say it’s a mixture between Arabic and shuahili).

13. The awalé served to identify the new king of the tribe

In Ghana legends tell that if a king died, the council organized Oware games among the candidates who won will become the successor.

14. You can not starve your opponent

Oware works out with two sacred rules:

“Don’t eliminate your rival“ It is understood that if the enemy is destroyed, also the land he cultivates is destroyed. Who did it by mistake lose the game. With this rule oware implement the proverb: “Whoever destroys the land may not reap anymore.”

“Your rival must not be hungry“ If your opponent runs out of seeds, you must give him some in order to continue playing.

15. The word comes from the French Awale

The word Oware has been incorporated by drawing on the French pronunciation of the game in some Central African languages such as the jula, the baoule or bambara.

16. The mancala served to keep accounts

One theory is that mancala started as a record keeping system.

17. Playing mancala games generate positive attitudes

Generate attitudes of coexistence, respect, know and comply with the rules.

18. Just a game …

It is rumored that Abeid Karume, the first president of Zanzibar, was murdered by his brother-in-law playing bao.

19. Playing too many problems you can take a couple

In Togo it is said that Oware is one of the leading causes of divorce.

20. The Awale be a way to earn a living

In Tanzania there are professional bao players (the Manqala local) who live important challenges and games and sometimes, as in chess, simultaneous games are organized to Makonde say that any Occidental can’t win a game of bao to one of their worst players.

21. You can play the Awale in Caribbean

From Africa Oware was extended not only to Asia but also to America by slaves who were forced to emigrate. Therefore, we should not be surprising that with different variations, Oware is very practiced today throughout the Caribbean and the Guiana’s.