Play Achi with the Avondale Regional Branch Library during Black History Month

 

Make your own Achi board with the Avondale Library. Photo from Ellen Shade.

This month, learn the game of Achi with Birmingham Public Library's Avondale Regional Branch Library!

What's Achi? It is a game of alignment from Ghana.

Tic-tac-toe is one of the most popular games of alignment in the United States, but in Ghana, children usually play Achi.

Players mark the game board on the ground and use little sticks as playing pieces. One player will have four little sticks with the bark on, and the other player will have four sticks with the bark off.

A game board like those used for Achi was found carved into a roofing slab of the temple at Al-Qurna in Egypt. It dates from 3,500 years ago!

The Avondale Library has Grab & Go kits available in two versions:

• ready-to-play paper version with gameboard, game pieces, and instructions
• crafting kit for a felt gameboard that includes felt, pattern, needle and thread, instructions, and buttons to use as game pieces

Kits are available for patrons of all ages. Pick up your kit at the Avondale Circulation desk, or call 205-226-4000 to pick up curbside!

By Ellen Shade | Librarian Ⅱ, Avondale Regional Branch Library