Africa Games Online

Welcome to Africa Games where you can play free Africa games online! Here we have a range of popular and traditional Africa games that are played across the continent of Africa by children and adults alike in online format. We also explore more about Africa so young people can get a better understanding of the continent and what it's like to live there.

Traditional Africa Games Online

When considering traditional Africa games, apart from Senet which originated in Egypt, the most popular and widely played game is undoubtedly Mancala which goes by various names such as "kigogo" in Kenya and "oware" in Ghana. The game involves a mancala board with holes arranged in rows, although children will often play the game using pebbles and holes in the ground when herding their goats. Players move their pebbles or marbles strategically to capture more than their opponent. It's very much like the western game of chess and is played across the world.

Ampe is another of the most popular games originating in Ghana and is played by groups of four or more (although two players can equally enjoy it). Players take turns being the leader leading clapping, singing, and jump movements with points being earned for leg movements, the first person gaining ten points being the winner. One of the easiest Africa games to play is Kudoda which originated in Zimbabwe although is just as popular in Kenya and Tanzania. The game requires a minimum of three players who sit around a number of pebbles. One of the players throws a pebble up in the air while the others scramble to pick up as many of the remaining pebbles as possible before the thrown pebble hits the ground.

Nyama-Nyama-Nyama is also popular with a leader being chosen who shouts out "Nyama, Nyama, Nyama" (with Nyama, pronounced n-eye-am-a, being the Swahili word for meat.) The leader then shouts out a list of animals that would be eaten in the country. If the meat chosen is actually eaten in Kenya then the game players shout "Nyama". If the meat is not typically eaten and a child has shouted 'Nyama', then they are out of the game. It continues until there is one person left. Typical animals used are rhinoceros, cow, dog, chicken, lion, pig, cat etc.

We have versions of some of these traditional Africa games online such as Mancala, Ayo and the ancient game of Senet, but also have a collection of arcade Africa games some of which are just fun, others help children and young people find out more about Africa wildlife, symbols and traditions. Our Africa map games are also a useful teaching resource to learn about the countries of Africa.