2 FUN, TYPICAL HAITIAN BOARD GAMES

I was born and raised in Montreal. When I was 9 years old, several members of my family and I moved to Haiti. The culture shock was very positive for me. I learned new things, new ways of speaking, of living, of being, of thinking, and even playing!

The tag (game of the wolf, or playing cat) was called «lago», tic-tac-toe became «titato», but well-beyond the known games which simply changed their names, there were games which were complete strangers to me and captivated me. And no, I won’t talk about dominoes as the featured photo might portend, because it’s already a well-known game.

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Here are my 2 favourite games:

1. KAY

Tools

A board with 12 holes arranged in 2 rows of 6 holes
Sometimes there are two large holes at the ends to keep the stones captured
48 stones, marbles or seeds about 4 per hole

Numbers of players

Minimum 2
Maximum 2

Who begins

Luck decides who begins.

General rules

The player picks up all the stones from one of the 6 holes in front of him that has at least two stones, and then sows them counter-clockwise into the next holes.
If the last stone falls into a busy hole, all its stones are collected and distributed in another round.
If the last stone falls into an occupied hole and its contents increase to four pieces, the player shouts "Kay!" ("house!"). He captures all its contents. He can also capture the contents of the previous holes as long as they contain four stones.
When a win is made, the player is entitled to another round.
If the last stone falls into an empty hole (so there is now only one stone there), it's over and it's the opponent's turn.
Learn more about the game here

Goal/Who wins

When there is no further action possible, the one who has collected the most stones wins.

Variants/Other names

Toukay, warri (Ghana)

My comments

This was the first time I had seen a mancala game, which is a seeding game. Mancala is the generic name for a set of traditional African and Asian board games. Sometimes the holes are dug in the ground. Other times, children use egg cartons to play. It takes so little to entertain! It's beautiful and sometimes it's played so fast that you have to look carefully to not get lost!

Overview

2. OSLÈ

Tools

5 small bones or ossicles. They are the tarsus or talus of a very young sheep or other animal.
Each bone has 4 sides: do (back), kre (hollow), i ou zi (like the letter z in English), and ès (like the letter s).

Numbers of players

Minimum 1
Maximum X

Who begins

Traditionally, you throw the knucklebones in the air and catch as many as you can on the back of one hand. Then you throw them back and try to catch them in the palms of both hands together. The one who catches the most knucklebones starts.
Otherwise, luck decides who goes first.

General rules

The player throws all the knucklebones carefully on the table or on the floor.
He must take one in his hand (usually the one that seems furthest from the others), and this one will be the main or master piece.
The movement to be respected during each action of the game: with one hand, they must throw this knucklebone in the air and pick up another on the ground quickly enough to catch the centrepiece thrown in the at the beginning.
If the player has thrown the main knucklebone and has failed to pick up a knucklebone from the ground, the turn is not lost until the main knucklebone has been caught. It must not fall to the ground!
If the centrepiece falls to the ground, it is the next opponent’s turn.
You have to remember or write down when your turn stopped because when your turn comes back, we continue at the round where we stopped.
In the first round, 1 knucklebone must be collected 4 times. In the second round, 2 knucklebones must be collected 2 times. In the third round, collect 3 knucklebones, then 1. And finally, on the last round, collect all 4 bones in one sweep.
Each turn has 4 rounds. So, in the first round, where you have to pick up 4 times 1 jack, you have to make sure that you have picked up the pieces while they were positioned on the "do". In the second round, everything must be on the "kre". In the third round, everything must be on the "i". Finally, in the fourth round, everything must be on the "ès". Then you can go to the second round, first round, and so on.
Learn more about the game here or here.

Goal/Who wins

The person who finishes the 4 sleeves of the 4 rounds the fastest.

Variants/Other names

Sometimes, we have the right to bring the pieces together before picking them up.
Some players add difficulty levels. For example, keeping one hand behind your back, which impairs your balance and body positioning, or clapping your hands once before you can pick up a knucklebone.

My comments

It’s a game that requires a lot of skills. The strongest players are able to complete all 4 rounds and 4 sleeves in a row.

You have to throw the pieces well on the ground. Choose the centrepiece strategically and sometimes twist or position yourself in complicated ways to pick up all the required pieces quickly in one sweep! It’s quite a sport!

Overview

In conclusion

Kay and Oslè are two games that have aroused my curiosity as a child. There are so many others: round games, card games, skipping rope games, each one more creative and fun than the other! Do you know the same rules as I do?

Why don't you join me in creating a well-detailed, well-explained and well-documented directory with photos and videos so that our classic games don't get forgotten?