Ayo Olopon

Ayo Olopon is a traditional mancala played by the Yoruba people in Nigeria!

Ayo Olopon is probably one of the oldest local games in Nigeria, and has been in existence amongst the Yoruba people since time immemorial.

Back in the days, it was usually played by aged people sitting face to face with the game box containing the pebbles used to play the game between them.

With the advent of modern technology however, the age-old game has been redesigned to fit the purpose and entertainment of both the modern times we now live and all age groups. Nowadays, a person having the opportunity to travel to Nigeria can see, on the streets in the south-western towns of the country, men (young and adults) playing around a wooden board with two rows of six holes, sitting on wooden benches under the shade of a tree. The players move green seeds from one hole to another. Each player’s goal is to capture as many seeds at the end of the game.

They play ayo game (known as awalé, awoaley, wari, woli, elsewhere of West Africa and the Americas with the same rules).