In 1989, I went on a 7-week missionary apprenticeship to Togo, West Africa. While there, I learned about this really neat game, and brought a version of it home with me. It was made of ebony, and the outside was beautifully carved. The game was simple and addictive, but no one seemed to know what it was called. The locals just referred to it as "the game." Children would dig holes in the ground to match the board's configuration, and would play with seeds or stones. In 2011, when my house was flooded, the game was ruined. Fast forward to today. I was reading Amish fiction, and they were playing a game called Mancala. It sounded a lot like "The Game." I looked up the rules, and it was the same. I ordered one on Amazon, and it will be here tomorrow. This is mass-produced, I think so no ornate carvings, but that's ok. The cool thing about this game is that it needs no adaptation, and can be enjoyed by blind and sighted players. It's not the most intellectually stimulating thing, but is a fun game of strategy. I'm happy to find out it has a name, and will be happy to check out the set I ordered. It is due to come tomorrow.
