The game of awari has entranced players for thousands of years. Originating in Africa, it remains a popular pastime in many parts of the world. Awari and its numerous variants are instances of “count-and-capture” strategy games, and they are known generically as mancala games.
In its traditional form, the awari game “board” consists of two parallel rows of six hollows, with four markers (beans) in each hollow, or cup. Two players sit opposite each other, with six cups belonging to one player and six to the other. The game’s goal is to capture the most beans.