Abapa meaning the proper version: literally translated from the Twi language spoken by the Akan, the good stone. This version has been traditionally played by Adults and used for competitions. It is played all over West Africa and the Caribbean and known by different names. Some of these are Ayoayo (Yoruba-Nigeria), Awale (Ivory Coast), Ouril (Cape Verde), Warri (Antigua, Barbados), Adji-Boto (Ewes-Ghana & Surinam), Awele (Ga’s-Ghana & Ivory Coast). These are just some of the names of this variant of Oware. There are many more.
The object of the game is to capture as many playing pieces as possible. The first player to capture 25 of them or more wins the game. A draw is possible in this game with each player capturing 24 playing pieces. playing pieces are captured, by making two’s or three’s with ones last playing piece on the opponent’s side.
The board consists of fourteen pits (houses). These are arranged in two rows of six houses, each player having six houses facing them. The two extra houses either end of the board are used for storing captured playing pieces. These are placed in the store house to the right of each player. The game is played with 48 playing pieces, with 4 playing pieces placed in each house, except the 2 store houses at the start of the game.
To start the game both players have to decide who should start. This can be done by mutual agreement or the toss of a coin. In subsequent games can alternate who is to start. Once it has been decided who should start that player can pick up from any one of the 6 houses in front of them that makes up their territory. Once the house has been selected all the playing pieces have to be scooped and sown in an anti-clockwise direction, in a consecutive manner placing the first playing piece in the house to the right or above from where they were scooped. The playing pieces, are placed in the houses directly following each other without skipping a house.
The only exception to moving consecutively is when a house that is being played has 12 or more playing pieces in it. With this situation one will be able to place a playing pieces in each house until one comes back to the original house that one started from. The next playing piece is not placed in this house but in the one after it. The same is repeated on subsequent circumnavigation of the board.
One captures playing pieces, by making a two or three with ones last playing piece on the opponents side. Take note if one makes a two or three but has playing pieces left to sow one does not gain anything.
If one makes a two or three with ones last playing pieces and the house or houses preceding the captured house on the opponent’s side also have twos, threes or any combination of them, in an unbroken sequence one captures these playing pieces as well. So long as there are no houses with less than two or more than three playing pieces, in-between them. Playing pieces from a maximum of five houses can be captured in this way. Beyond five houses one forfeits the capture, as this would leave the opponent without any playing pieces to play with.
If the situation arises where one player has no playing pieces to play with, the other player must make a move that will provide some playing pieces to the opponent if possible. A move that does not do this whilst being able to feed the other player with playing pieces with another move is not allowed.
Greater priority is placed on capturing playing pieces to the end. Therefore manoeuvring playing pieces in such a way that will eventually lead to the opponent not having any to play with is not encouraged but technically allowed.
The game ends when one player has captured 25 playing pieces or more. When both players decide that continuing will only lead to going round in circles in such a case each player keeps the playing pieces on their side. If each player has 24 playing pieces it is a draw.
We build a strong and inclusive community by connecting players through shared cultural appreciation.
Copyright © 2026 The Oware Society.