Ayo Across The World

Field Notes

Aug 10

More than just a skillful game of sow and capture, Ayo’s history is deeply rooted in the African Diaspora dating back to the Transatlantic slave trade. Known by many names in Africa and across the Carribeans, Ayo quickly became a preferred pastime because of how discreetly it could be played out of the eyesight of enslavers.

Ayo is played for leisure, mathematical skill building, as well as an exercise for those seeking to strengthen focus, memory, and cognitive skills. Play at beginner, intermediate, and even master levels.

Playing the Game:

Regardless of what region of the world you’re playing, the object of the game is to capture more seeds than your opponent.

Game Setup:

Set the board between two players. Add 4 seeds into each of the 6 cups, or houses, facing the players. The 6 cups facing each player will be their “territory.” The end pockets to the right of each player will only be used to keep the captured seeds.

First Play:

To determine who makes the first play, one player will hide a seed in one of their closed fists. If the opposing player can guess which fist has the seed, that player will make the first move. If they guess it wrong, the player hiding the seed will make the first play. Note: All Plays can only be made in a counter clock direction.

Now, select a country and discover ways to play below.