Ethiopia boasts a rich cultural heritage, and its traditional games are an integral part of this legacy. These games, passed down through generations, offer not only entertainment but also a glimpse into the social fabric and values of Ethiopian communities. From board games requiring strategic thinking to active games promoting physical activity and social interaction, Ethiopia's traditional games are diverse and captivating.
Konso children playing Lamlameta
Board Games
Board games are a popular form of traditional entertainment in Ethiopia. These games often involve strategic thinking, planning, and social interaction.
Mancala Games
Mancala is the name that anthropologists have given to a type of board game that is played throughout Africa, and some places in Asia. Mancala games are known by various names in different regions of Ethiopia, reflecting the country's diverse cultures and languages. One such game is Tegre.
They are usually made of wood that have various numbers of holes carved in them. Playing pieces used are usually seeds, beans, stones, cowry shells, or any other small objects that are put in and moved about the holes during play. In a process known as sowing, all the seeds from a hole are dropped one at a time into successive holes, in a motion covering the board. At the beginning of a player's turn, they choose a hole with seeds that will be sown around the board.
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One plays the game by first drawing lines on the ground, usually with chalk or just lines in the dirt. If a person cannot throw the stone in the correct place, i.e.
The game the boys showed us has 2 rows of 6 holes each. Start with 4 seeds in each hole. Sit facing your partner with the board between you. You each have 6 pits that are “yours” and the hole to your right is where you’ll put captured seeds (the hole to your partner’s right is theirs). Each player starts by choosing a hole on his side, and picking up all of the seeds in that hole. Then, moving in a counterclockwise direction, he/she should deposit them one by one in the following holes (as if taking a lap around the holes).
When the last seed of the turn is placed into an empty hole, there are 3 possibilities:
- If the hole is on your opponent’s side, the turn is over.
- If the empty hole is on your side, and the opposite hole is empty, the turn is over.
With a 2-row board, the players control their sides of the board, with moves made into the opponent's side.
How to play Mancala (2024 rules)
Lamlameta
Lamlameta, meaning "in couples", 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.
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The board used to play Lamlameta, called toma tagéga, comprises 2 rows (one per player) of 12 pits each; pits are termed awa. At his turn, the player takes all the seeds from one of his pits and relay-sows them counterclockwise. Usually, the opening move is from one of the two rightmost pits. With the sole exception of the opening move (meaning the first move of the first player), in all subsequent sowings any opponent's pit holding exactly two seeds is skipped.
The player's move ends when the last seed of a sowing is dropped in an empty pit. If that pit is in the player's own row, and the opposite pit in the opponent's row contains exactly two seeds, then a capture occurs. In this case, all of the opponent's seeds in any pit containing two seeds are removed from the board. The game ends when one of the players has no seeds left. The opponent then captures all the seeds that are left on the board.
Active Games
Besides board games, Ethiopia also has a rich tradition of active games that involve physical activity, teamwork, and social interaction.
Coocoolu
This traditional Ethiopian game can be described as a variant of the well known "hide and seek" game, with about 6-15 people participating. The game begins when one (the seeker) in a group stares at a wall (known as his/her house, home base, or the Mariam), avoiding eye contact with the others. The others in the meantime, have to find hiding places.
After a while, the seeker on the wall will begin to make the "coocoolu" sound, imitating the sound hens make in the morning. The others attempting to hide will reply "alnegam" or it is not morning yet, implying that the hen (seeker) should not leave his/her house. The seeker will continue to make the sound till everyone in the group trying to hide has hidden themselves and start to reply "nega" or the sun has risen.
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At this point, the seeker will actively attempt to find those in the group that are now hidden. The seeker will have to find the hidden before they reach the wall, and call out their name and go to his wall "home" and touch the wall while kissing his hand. If the seeker arrives before the hidden whose name was called out, then the hidden will be "captured", and remain waiting at the seeker's wall. This makes them safe.
Demo (Pepsi)
Demo, later named Pepsi, is a traditional game played in Ethiopia. In the past, the game was called Demo but changed when the Derg regime came into power.
Other Traditional Games
Ethiopia is home to a wide variety of other traditional games, each with its unique rules and customs.
- Kelebosh (Handaie): Kelebosh is a traditional game played in Ethiopia, known also as Handaie (Tigregna). The number of the rocks in the game has to be an odd number, such as 5 or 7.
- T'et'er (Teter): T'et'er is a traditional game played using ceramic tiles.
- Biy: Biy or marbles is a traditional game played using marbles.
Ethiopian kids playing traditional game
The game begins when at the least four people form a circle, in which one is chosen to be the passer of the belt. This person will hide the belt behind one of the people in the circle.
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