Games and Sports in Africa

Two of the oldest-known board games came from Africa, according to this website. One of the games is Senet, which is no longer played around the world because no one wrote down the rules of the game. The other board game, Mancala/Mankala, is still a very popular game today, especially in Africa, but it is played around the world. Carved boards of wood is typically the way Mancala is played, but some people play it just on the ground. 

Mancala/Mankala is played by transfering stones, counters or buttons around a number of 'bins' or dips in the ground. There are more than 200 different versions of this ‘count and capture’ game, which is known by many different names in Africa, including wari/owari, kombe andaweet.

Most children's toys in Africa are usually homemade, instead of being bought from a store. Because of this, children often play their own games, a lot of which are played all over the world. Some of those games that children in Africa play include hide and seek and leap frog. Young boys typically play with old tire rims, and girls use ropes to jump rope and play with wooden dolls that their mom made. Children in Africa also play football, basketball and volleyball. 

The most popular sport in Africa is football, which is known as soccer in America. There have been several professional football players from Africa, including Didier Drogba from Ivory Coast, and Michael Essien from Ghana. A lot of children in Africa are found to be outside playing with a football (soccer ball), in hopes that someday, maybe they will become a professional player. 

Michael Essien, Ghana Africa

The All Africa Games is what is known as Africa's own Olympic Games. They were first held in 1960 in Madagascar and was created by French-speaking countries, but throughout the years, more African nations have joined. The All Africa Games is held every four years and is hosted by a different country each time. 

Chart of The All Africa Games Medals