Igisoro – heritage game of Rwandans

Igisoro Omweso_players_in_kigali_rwanda

Igisoro game, heritage game for the �Rwandans

Igisoro is one traditional game in Rwanda else in Burundi and it�is�called Omweso in Uganda and Mancala games in East African. It is a game had its origin many years ago, was oldest game for old Rwandans, game for the Rwandan kings played with their friends. It is a game for children, young and adult in the country.

Igisoro Omweso_players_in_kigali_rwanda
Photo courtesy – Wikipedia

Igisoro made in the tree, it is a small table with 32 pits and 64 seeds. It is a game played by 2 persons (players) each person has 2 rows of 16 pits with 32 seeds.For starting , igisoro is arranged by 1 row of 8 pits� has the� 32 seeds,4 seeds in each pits(4*8) and it is the same for another person.

To start, each person play 2 times for filling the empty pits of 2rd row of his side, it called Guca umuvuno).Then,one person starts to play �for winning, it called Kurasa ,he/she start with 4 seeds return back on his 2rd row of his/her side, he/she �need to account the seeds to help to end in pit with seed, then he/she� wins by taking the seeds� from the pits of his/her opposite player, those pits� need to have both the seeds. If the last seed stop in empty pit, the second person play also by choose a pit with 4 seeds� on his side and move placing 1 seed in his pit, everyone need to account the seeds and look where he/she can play and win.

There is some rules of igisoro game:

-You can not choose the pit of 1 seed for playing

-You play from the next pit of the one you take the seeds.

-You need to account the number of seeds before to play.

-You Stop to play when you stop in empty pit.

-To play is to return back in your side but there is exception chance, when you see you can win, there is 4 pits parallels (2 right side and 2 left side) you can play by choose the seeds in one of those pits by looking the best way to win. it called Guteba or Gukuba.

To win, it is when one player has empty pits or with 1 seed because it is not allow to play 1 seed but some countries like Burundi and Congo, to win it is when all pits are empty (0 seed).

This game is good, it help the players to pay attention, to think so much, to account then you decide how and where you play. It is good heritage game for the Rwandans and future Rwandans to know game of the grandparents. It is region game from different East African countries; it can connect the peoples and creates friendship between the Rwandans and others. It is a playing game every time (day or night).

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