Lamlameta is a traditional mancala game played by the Konso people of Central Ethiopia near the village of Olanta. The name literally means “grouped in pairs,” derived from lama (the numeral two in the Gallinya language). It is primarily a recreation of adult males. Players sow seeds around a two-row board, capturing seeds to accumulate the most by game’s end.
Components
1 board (toma tagega) with 2 rows of 12 pits each (24 pits total)
48 seeds (tagega) – traditionally small stones or dried beans
Setup
Place 2 seeds in each of the 24 pits. Each player controls the 12 pits on their side of the board.
Turn Structure
Players alternate turns. On your turn:
Choose one of your non-empty pits (that is not an “uur” – a captured pit).
Pick up all seeds from that pit.
Distribute (sow) the seeds one at a time counterclockwise into consecutive pits.
If the last seed lands in a pit containing other seeds, pick up all seeds from that pit and continue sowing.
If the last seed lands in an empty pit, your turn ends.
Actions
Sowing
Pick up all seeds from a chosen pit on your side.
Drop one seed into each subsequent pit, moving counterclockwise around the board.
Continue relay sowing when the last seed lands in an occupied pit.
Capturing
When the last seed is dropped into an empty pit on the opponent’s side and the opposite pit on your side contains seeds, capture all seeds from both pits.
Captured pits may become “uurs” (owned holes) under certain conditions.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The game ends when one player cannot move (has no seeds in any of their non-uur pits).
Both players then capture seeds from their own uurs and from remaining pits in their rows.
The player who captured the most seeds wins.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Uur (captured pits): A player can own uurs on either side of the board. Seeds in uurs belong to their owner and are captured at game end.
Relay sowing: Sowing continues as long as the last seed lands in an occupied pit. The turn only ends when a seed drops into an empty pit.
Counterclockwise: Seeds are always sowed counterclockwise around the board.
Cannot skip uurs: All pits, including uurs, are included in the sowing path.