This is a strategy board game between two players.Many cultures around the world have a similar version of this ‘mancala’ game, including East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, but this is the version from the Philippines.
Sungka begins with seven shells in each of the small rows of pits. The goal is to take in turns picking up a set of shells, then putting the shells into one pit at a time going around clockwise. Dropping the final shell into an empty pit allows you to capture your opponent’s shells and you win by having more shells than your opponent.
It is a game that has allowed me to keep in touch with my Philippine roots after over fifteen years living in the UK, but I am ashamed to say that I don’t often have any luck with Sungka, as it involves a startling amount of strategy, focus and quick maths. Nevertheless, I have spent many a blissful summer lazying around in Port Meadow playing this over some chicken adobo and oxtail kare-kare shared with fellow Filipinos.
Dr Marco Narajos, Science Teacher at Cheney