Overview

Ayoayo (also known as Ayo or Ayo Olopon) is a traditional mancala game played by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Two players compete on a 2x6 board with 48 seeds, sowing seeds around the board in a relay fashion and capturing opponents’ seeds. The player who captures the most seeds wins.

Components

• 1 Mancala board with 2 rows of 6 pits (12 pits total)
• 2 Stores (larger pits, one at each end of the board)
• 48 Seeds (or stones/beads)

Setup

1. Place the board between the two players so each player has a row of 6 pits closest to them.
2. Place exactly 4 seeds in each of the 12 pits (48 seeds total).
3. Each player’s store is the large pit to their right.
4. Decide who goes first.

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns. On each turn, a player picks up all seeds from one of their own pits and sows them.

Actions

Sowing

1. Choose one of your 6 pits that contains seeds.
2. Pick up all seeds from that pit.
3. Distribute (sow) the seeds one at a time, counterclockwise, into consecutive pits. On your own row, move left to right. When you reach the end, continue right to left on your opponent’s row, then back to your row, and so on.
4. Do not drop seeds into either store during sowing.

Relay Sowing (Multi-Lap)

• If the last seed lands in a pit that already contains seeds, pick up all seeds from that pit (including the one just dropped) and continue sowing from the next pit.
• Continue this relay until the last seed lands in an empty pit, which ends your turn.

Capturing

When the last seed of a sowing sequence lands in an empty pit:

• On your own side: Capture the seeds in the opponent’s pit directly opposite, plus the seed that landed in the empty pit. Place all captured seeds in your store.
• On the opponent’s side: The turn simply ends with no capture (in the most common rule variant).

Alternative capture rule (widely used variant): If the last seed lands in an opponent’s pit and brings its total to exactly 2 or 3 seeds, capture those seeds. Additionally, if the preceding pit(s) on the opponent’s side also contain exactly 2 or 3 seeds, capture those as well (chain capture moving backwards).

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The game ends when one player cannot make a move (their row is empty).

The remaining seeds on the board are captured by the player on whose side they sit. Each player counts the seeds in their store. The player with the most seeds wins.

In tournament play, a common target is to capture 25 or more seeds (a majority of the 48).

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Many rule variants exist: Different Yoruba communities play with different rules. Players should agree on rules before starting.
• No sowing into stores: Unlike some mancala variants (e.g., Kalah), seeds are never dropped into the stores during sowing.
• Relay sowing is mandatory: If the last seed lands in a non-empty pit, the player must continue sowing. There is no option to stop.
• Starvation rule: If a player’s move would leave the opponent with no seeds on their side, the move may be prohibited (depending on the variant). In some versions, the player must make a move that feeds the opponent if possible.
• Grand Slam (capture all): In some variants, capturing all of an opponent’s seeds in a single turn is not allowed; the seeds are instead returned.
• Seeds skip stores: During sowing, skip over both stores. Seeds only enter stores through captures.

Player Reference

Term	Meaning
Sow	Distribute seeds one per pit counterclockwise
Relay	If last seed lands in occupied pit, pick up all and continue
Capture	Last seed in empty pit on own side: take opposite pit’s seeds
Store	Personal scoring pit to your right

Board layout: 6 pits per player + 1 store each = 14 total positions

Starting position: 4 seeds in each of 12 pits = 48 seeds total

Win condition: Most captured seeds when the game ends