Step into the Past with LUDOS: Ancient Games of Africa!

Ever wonder what games people played centuries ago, right in the heart of Africa? Well, now’s your chance to find out! LUDOS: Ancient Games of Africa is live on Kickstarter, already drawing the attention of over 2,400 backers. This box offers a ticket to exploring history, culture, and strategy, all packed into one neat package. It’s also the sequel to LUDOS: Ancient Games of Asia, which was successfully funded earlier this year and has already made its way to happy backers worldwide.

Just like its predecessor, LUDOS Africa offers a collection of four abstract games, each a cultural gem of its country. These games aren’t just museum relics; they’re still played in the streets today. While their original versions might have been scratched out with stones and carved boards, this version adds a splash of color with beautiful game pieces and cloth mats—all bundled up in handy little travel bags. Ready to take a trip through time on your next vacation? These games have you covered!

But there’s more! If you’re looking for something light (literally), LUDOS has a “Pay What You Want” option for one game of your choice, which comes in a travel-friendly pouch (no box, so more room in your suitcase). And here’s a feel-good bonus: after the campaign, Lemery Games will donate copies of LUDOS to schools and NGOs, using their own funds. So by supporting this campaign, you’re helping keep these ancient games alive for future generations.

And if you’re the kind of person who needs the full set (no judgment here), if you grab all four games, you’ll get the Collection Box for free! Now, who can resist a freebie? 😄

Let’s take a quick tour of the four games included:

Oware – Ghana (500 AD)

A classic mancala-style game. Plant seeds, harvest them, and be the first to gather 25 to win! Oware is all about strategy, but don’t let it plant any doubts in your mind—this game is an absolute gem!

Yoté – Mali

Forget your typical checkers setup! In Yoté, the game begins with an empty board, and players place camels as they go. It’s a clever twist on the checkers family, where capturing not only gets you one camel but lets you swipe an extra one from the board. It’s like checkers but with more drama. 🐫

Fanorona – Madagascar (1680)

Fanorona is where things really start to get wild. Move your lemurs, capture your opponent’s pieces in a chain reaction, and watch the board light up with strategy. First one to corner or capture all the lemurs wins. 🦙 (Okay, maybe they’re not technically lemurs, but isn’t it fun to imagine?)

Dara – Nigeria (1800s)

Think tic-tac-toe but on steroids. Lions and elephants battle for territory on the savannah, and the goal is to create rows of three. If you succeed, you get to capture one of your opponent’s pieces, and the first to capture ten wins. Let the safari begin!