Yoté
TRADITIONAL WEST AFRICAN 2-PLAYER STRATEGY GAME (SENEGAL, MALI, GAMBIA, BURKINA FASO), played on 5x6 grid = 30 SQUARES. Each player has 12 STONES (traditionally pebbles / seeds). Signature: PLAYERS PLACE OR MOVE (choice each turn); CAPTURE = jump orthogonally over enemy piece into empty square, PLUS bonus = REMOVE ANY OTHER opponent piece. Play until one player has no legal moves or reduces opponent to 0-2 pieces. STRATEGIC + tactical; deeply respected in African game tradition; part of PAN-AFRICAN GAMES program.
Quick facts
Category
Mind Sports
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~25 min
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇸🇳 Senegal
Estimated origin
Ancient West African tradition; possibly pre-colonial (Wolof + Mandinka peoples); global spread via ethnographic documentation 1900s+
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Reduce opponent to 0-2 pieces OR immobilize opponent.
Rules
Basic rules
BOARD: 5x6 grid = 30 empty squares initially
Signature empty starting board.
EACH TURN player chooses: PLACE 1 of their reserve pieces on empty square OR MOVE 1 of their board pieces orthogonally 1 square
Signature place-or-move choice.
CAPTURE: jump orthogonally over enemy piece into empty square = capture that piece PLUS BONUS remove any other opponent piece
Signature capture + bonus.
MULTIPLE captures possible in one turn (chain jumps)
Signature chain captures.
CAPTURE IS OPTIONAL (unlike many games)
Signature optional capture.
WIN: reduce opponent to fewer than 3 pieces OR immobilize opponent
Signature win conditions.
Scoring
Reduce opponent below 3 pieces or immobilize.
Win condition · Opponent has <3 pieces or no legal moves.
Equipment
5x6 grid board (or drawn in sand)
Signature 5x6 grid
12 stones per player (traditionally pebbles + seeds)
Signature 12 pieces each
Terminology
- Bonus capture
- After a jump capture, remove any OTHER opponent piece.
- Reserve
- Pieces not yet placed on board.
- Wolof / Mandinka
- West African peoples with strong Yoté tradition.
Where it is played
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Yoté— Wikipedia