Mankala is an ancient head-to-head strategy game from Africa. I know a returned Peace Corps volunteer who claims to have lost many a game to little kids who had made their game board by scraping holes in the dirt and collecting stones from the creek bed. Read more about Mankala Lore at this link.

The rules are easy to learn, although there are many variations. Clear thinking and good planning are needed to win.

Softwood mancala with 48 glass beads is 18 inches long.