A lot of us grew up with this game. At some point in my life, I could not contemplate the idea of an African, Nigerian or Yoruba child growing up without it , but I have recently discovered that there are indeed some members of these societies - some of them older than I am - for whom that game is merely something they know distantly. I sympathise with them !
This game is known by many names across the globe, for it is now known to be played in many other places besides Africa. Sometimes the names are generic - referring to the game itself but some other times, they refer to specific ways of playing the game.
In my immediate society - Yoruba - it is generically known as ayo, a very loose reference actually, because that word is generally used for all forms of games. Style reference wise, we have three names for it : j'odu , j'eyo and j'erin - referring to three different modes of play.
In the last decade, I have done extensive work on the game, especially its j'erin mode.
No, I did not improve it; I merely studied it . Yet, the challenge which studying it has posed has been tremendous albeit fullfilling.
Some of the other names by which the game is known are : okwe,
nsa-isong,mancalla,warri,awele !
