The Ancient Game of Mancala Lives On in DR Congo

Three children are in a dirt clearing in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A young child with braided hair, wearing a black and white striped dress, is holding a doll. A slightly older child, wearing a red shirt with a pink and white plaid skirt and green sandals, holds a yellow fruit. A third child peers from behind them. The background features scrubby greenery and a glimpse of the sky.

The video shows four young boys playing in a grassy field. One is wearing a white soccer jersey with "BENZEMA" and the number 9 on the back. Another is wearing a blue and red soccer jersey with a red band on his arm. Another boy wears a dark t-shirt with a portrait on it and carries a blue and white flag. The fourth child has his back to the camera and appears to be wearing a gray jersey. The boy in the "BENZEMA" jersey dribbles a soccer ball. The boy in the dark t-shirt watches and then runs away. The boy in the "BENZEMA" jersey falls to the ground. The boy in the blue and red jersey stands nearby. Other children are visible in the background.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of seven children are sitting on a dirt path surrounded by grass and vegetation. Six are sitting in a semi-circle on the ground, while one child is seated apart from the group. The children wear various clothing items including shirts, pants, shorts, and sandals. Some are barefoot.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of children are engaged in play. A boy in a yellow shirt and orange skirt holds a yellow ball. Another boy in a red shirt and blue shorts holds a doll and a blue, green, and yellow vuvuzela. Some of the children are barefoot and some are wearing sandals. The ground is reddish-brown dirt. Behind them is vegetation.

The image shows a group of approximately ten children gathered in a grassy area, likely in a rural or semi-rural part of Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The children are of African descent and appear to be of various ages. They are dressed in casual clothing, some carrying or wearing extra layers. A tree is present in the background, and dense foliage is visible to the left of the frame. The overall lighting suggests a sunny day. The children seem to be interacting with one another, possibly exchanging or sorting through clothes. The ground is mostly dirt and dry grass.

In an outdoor location in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of approximately nine children gather on a reddish-brown dirt surface. The children are clad in various casual clothes. One child, wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and plaid pants, stands on the left edge of the frame. A child in a blue soccer jersey stands nearby. Two children in red attire, one holding a doll, stand centrally. Another child in a red shirt blows into a blue and green horn. Two children in yellow shirts bend over playing with what appears to be small, round objects. One child is standing on the right in a red shirt and plaid skirt and another behind. The environment includes sparse green vegetation along the edges of the dirt area. The overall atmosphere suggests a casual, informal setting, possibly a play area or open space within the city.

Two children are playing a game of Mancala on a wooden board filled with white marbles. They are squatting on the ground in an outdoor setting, possibly a yard or field. The ground is a mix of dirt, straw, and scattered debris, including a plastic bottle. The area appears to be on the edge of a field with sparse greenery and vegetation in the background. The location is in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Three children are outside on a dirt ground. One child is kneeling and appears to be setting up or playing a game of Mancala on a wooden board. Another child is holding a blue and red plastic toy horn. The third child stands nearby. In the background are trees and shrubbery. The photograph was taken in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The image depicts a group of approximately 15 children playing outdoors in what appears to be a dirt clearing in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The area is partially shaded by trees and dense foliage in the background. The ground is bare, with some scattered debris. The children are of varying ages and are dressed in simple, casual clothing. Some are standing, others are sitting or squatting. Several children are interacting with each other and with various objects, including a brick, a bag, and a plastic bottle. The lighting suggests it is daytime.

Two young boys are sitting on the ground playing a game of Mancala. They are facing each other, with the Mancala board between them. The board is made of wood and has two rows of six pockets, each containing several white stones. The boy on the left is wearing a red shirt and patterned shorts, and the boy on the right is wearing a black tank top and blue shorts. They are both barefoot. The ground is a mixture of dirt and grass. There are some leaves and other debris scattered around. Loud crying can be heard in the background.

The image shows a group of children in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some children are standing in a group on the left side of the image, while others are playing in the background on a dirt field. Some children are holding and playing with vuvuzelas. The environment appears to be rural, with trees and vegetation surrounding the dirt field. There are a few buildings visible in the distance.

A group of children are gathered in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The setting appears to be a rural or semi-rural area, with a dirt ground and vegetation visible in the background. Several of the children are gathered closely together, some holding objects that resemble toys or cups, and one is drinking from one. One child, wearing a light-colored dress, stands further back and appears to be holding her head with both hands. Another child is dribbling a ball. In the background is a building, and a woman walking. Some of the children are looking at each other, while others are looking directly at the camera.

A child is standing on a dirt path next to a thick bush in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The child is dark-skinned, barefoot, and wearing a long-sleeved pink shirt with shoulder cutouts and a pair of pink shorts with white stripes. The child is looking down and holding a small, round, yellowish object in their left hand. The ground is reddish-brown dirt. The bush behind the child is green and brown. There is some trash on the ground near the bush.

A young, dark-skinned girl stands barefoot in an outdoor area with a dirt ground, holding a doll. The girl has short, braided hair and is wearing a red, long-sleeved shirt with shoulder cutouts and a matching skirt with white stripes along the hem. The doll has blonde hair, a blue dress, and red shoes. The background consists of green shrubs and trees. The setting appears to be a rural or less developed area. The location is Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Two children are playing outside on a dirt path. A girl with braided hair, wearing a red shirt with a pattern and a plaid skirt, is holding a yellow, round object and drops it to the ground. A boy in a red shirt and blue shorts holds a blue megaphone to his mouth. Another child in a blue shirt and pants walks by. The background shows green foliage and a tree. Other people are visible in the distance. The music sounds like a kazoo.

Five children are sitting on the ground in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, playing a traditional board game with marbles. The game board is a wooden structure with several depressions containing marbles. The children are of African descent, and they are dressed in casual clothing. The ground is covered with grass and dirt. In the background, there are several small buildings.

Five children are sitting in a circle on the ground, playing a board game. The game board is brown and has several indentations in it, and they are playing with small white marbles. The children are all dark-skinned and are dressed in casual clothing. They are sitting on a patch of dirt surrounded by grass. There are some dead leaves on the ground near them. The sun is shining.

Two children sit on the ground in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, playing cards. One wears a plaid shirt, the other a plain shirt. A pile of cards lies between them on the dirt ground. A bag sits nearby.

A group of about ten children, mostly wearing casual clothes, are gathered around a large, brown sack on a patch of dirt. They appear to be rummaging through the contents of the sack. Some are pulling out items, including what looks like clothes and bottles. The scene is set outdoors, with a tree trunk visible to the right and dense green foliage in the background. The ground is mostly dirt with some patches of grass. The light suggests it is daytime.

A group of children, mostly boys, are gathered near a tree in an outdoor, possibly rural, setting. The children are of various ages, ranging from toddlers to pre-teens. They are dressed in a mix of casual clothing, including t-shirts, dresses, and plaid shirts. Some are barefoot, while others wear shoes. A girl in a red dress dances and gestures. Some children are watching others playing in an open, dirt-covered area in the background. There are trees and vegetation in the surrounding area, with a light, hazy sky overhead. A few white structures can be seen distantly in the background. The overall atmosphere seems playful and energetic.

Two young individuals are seated on the ground outdoors in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, playing a game of Mancala. The girl is wearing a pink dress with a black, patterned overlay, while the boy is wearing a t-shirt and pants. They are both barefoot. The Mancala board, made of wood with marble pieces, is placed between them on the ground, which consists of dirt and some patches of grass. The boy has his hand to his head, appearing deep in thought.

Children play soccer in a dirt field in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A group of seven children, some wearing soccer jerseys, are spread across the field. Huts and trees are visible in the background. The terrain is hilly in the distance.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a young boy wearing a blue and red checkered shirt and dark pants is running in a field. He is wearing tan sandals. Several other children are visible in the background on a dirt field, some wearing light-colored shirts or dresses. Several buildings are in the background, and there are mountains on the horizon. The field is covered in sparse grass.

In a field in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of young boys are playing soccer. They are on a reddish-brown, dirt field, and the surrounding environment includes grass, sparse trees, and several brick buildings with corrugated metal roofs. In the background, are large mountains. The boys are wearing various articles of clothing, including a blue soccer jersey with the name "Bakambu" and the number "17" on the back, a blue and red checkered shirt, and a shirt with a portrait of a man printed on it. One boy is carrying a backpack. They are actively engaged in the game, running across the field.

The video captures a scene of a group of children playing on a dirt field in what appears to be a rural or less developed area. In the foreground, several children are gathered closely. One child, wearing a yellow shirt and pants, holds a blue and green plastic horn. Another child sits on the ground, wearing a light-colored, possibly torn or worn, shirt. A child in a red shirt attempts to kick a ball, and nearby, a child in a blue shirt bends down. A boy with a "CHICAGO" striped shirt stands watching the action. In the background, other children are scattered across the large, dirt field. There are simple, small buildings with pitched roofs, and in the distance, tree-covered mountains rise. The sky is bright and hazy, suggesting a sunny day. The ground appears dry and dusty.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a child sits on the ground in a blue shirt. An adult stands nearby, bending over to touch their foot, wearing a patterned shirt and skirt. In the background are houses with metal roofs and trees. The ground is red dirt. Another child is partially visible to the right of the adult.

Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A dirt field with sparse vegetation. Several children play. Two girls in the foreground play a game with an orange. One girl wears a red dress with white stripes and has dark hair with extensions. The other girl wears a pink top and patterned skirt. Other children play in the background. There are brick buildings with straw roofs. Mountains in the background. Sunlight is present.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of boys play in a dusty field. The field is bordered by dense green vegetation and a few buildings with corrugated metal roofs. The boys are dressed in various casual clothes and jerseys, some with numbers and names printed on them. They are running and walking across the field, with some appearing to chase one another. The environment is bright, with long shadows cast by the setting sun.

A group of children is playing on a red dirt field in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. One child wears a blue soccer jersey with the name "Bakambu" and the number "17" on the back. Another child is running with a blue shirt. Others are walking. A dirt road or path leads to a background of tall grasses and sparse trees. A simple, brick structure can be seen in the background.

A group of approximately nine children stand on a dirt road in what appears to be a rural area, likely in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The children are of African descent and are dressed in casual clothing, some in soccer jerseys. One jersey has the name "BAKAMBU" and the number 17 on the back. Another child is wearing a Real Madrid jersey. In the background are simple dwellings constructed from mud or brick, with thatched roofs. The surrounding environment includes sparse vegetation and a slight hillside. The lighting suggests it is daytime. The dirt road is the primary ground surface visible. The children are not actively engaged in any obvious activity but appear to be casually standing and interacting.

A group of children are on a grassy hillside in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Several of the children are wearing shirts resembling sports jerseys. Some of the children are barefoot. In the background are some mud-brick buildings with thatched roofs and mountainous terrain. The setting appears to be a rural area.

The image depicts a group of children playing on a dirt road in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are six children visible in the image, some running and appearing to play a game with a soccer ball. The child closest to the camera is wearing a blue soccer jersey with the number 17 on the back. The environment includes a dirt road, foliage, and a building with a thatched roof in the background. The overall scene suggests a rural or semi-rural setting.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of children are playing soccer in a grassy field. There are four children in the foreground, running barefoot and wearing casual clothes. The soccer ball is green and black. In the background, there is a large tree and a group of people standing near a path. The field appears to be located near a residential area, with some buildings visible in the distance.

The image shows a group of children playing on a dirt field in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The children are of African descent and appear to be between the ages of 5 and 12. They are wearing a mix of casual clothing, including t-shirts, shorts, and sandals. Some of the children are holding or wearing blue soccer jerseys. The children are scattered across the field, with some running and others standing. The background includes lush green vegetation and a dirt bank with figures on top. The overall impression is one of a sunny day with children engaged in carefree play.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of children play on a dirt field. Most of them wear sports jerseys with numbers. Some others are wearing ordinary clothing. There are small buildings on the edge of the field with thatched roofs. Mountains are in the background. There is vegetation surrounding the field.

A group of approximately a dozen young boys are situated on a dirt field in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most are wearing casual clothing, including t-shirts, shorts, and sandals. Some are dressed in soccer jerseys, one bearing the name "BENZEMA" and the number "9". A few boys are wearing the colors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo national soccer team. The boys are spread out across the field, some walking, others standing. In the background, there is a hill covered with dense green vegetation. Further into the background, there are a few people visible on the hilltop. The overall setting appears to be a rural or semi-rural area. The lighting suggests it is daytime, possibly late afternoon, casting long shadows across the dirt field.

Three children are playing cards on the ground in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The children are positioned in a triangle formation on a patch of bare earth. The child at the apex of the triangle is wearing a light-colored shirt and light-colored, dirty pants. The child to the left is wearing a plaid shirt. The child to the right is wearing a long-sleeved shirt. The ground is mostly bare, with patches of dry grass and scattered debris. Several playing cards are visible.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of children play in a grassy field. One child wears a "Benzema 9" jersey and kicks a ball. Others are running, some wearing jerseys and sandals. Background features include a dirt road and sparse vegetation. Other people are visible in the background.

Children are playing soccer in a rural area in the city of Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are eleven children in total. Nine are actively engaged in the game, running across a dirt field. One child stands on the sidelines watching. Another smaller child stands near a building on the edge of the field. The field is surrounded by trees and small buildings. There is a mountain in the distance.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of children plays on a dirt field. The children, dressed in a mix of casual clothes and soccer jerseys, are actively engaged in a game of soccer. Huts and vegetation are visible in the background. The ground is primarily dirt, with some patches of grass. The sky is bright, indicating it is daytime.

In Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a group of children are playing in a grassy area, possibly a field. One child, wearing a Benzema jersey with the number 9, faces away from the camera. Several other children are in motion, appearing to be running or playing a game. In the background, there are several simple, likely mud-brick, buildings, indicative of a rural or underdeveloped area. A dirt path is visible to the right of the frame, and the environment includes trees and a distant mountain range.

A child is performing a cartwheel on a grassy area in Ngalula, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The child is wearing an orange shirt and dark shorts. Two other children are running in the background. The environment consists of grass and vegetation.