In this thread, we explored the idea of merging Ajua, the traditional African mancala game, with chama/VSLA table banking practices in Kenya. The goal: to preserve the social and ritual dimensions of chamas while introducing structured, transparent accounting through a physical board that could later evolve into an SBC (single-board computer) system.

1. Background

  • Ajua (upcountry) and Bao (coastal/Azanians) are traditional mancala games.
  • Chama apps exist but face adoption challenges due to:
    • Not all members owning smartphones.
    • Apps disrupting the social dimension of chama meetings.

2. Core Idea

  • Each chama session = a game session.
  • A board (Ajua-inspired) is used to record contributions, loans, repayments, and dividends.
  • Long-term: embed the board with sensors + SBC for automatic digital recording.

3. Design Evolution

  • Initial diagram used a central Table Bank pit.
  • Refined model: segmented Table Bank (each member’s share is visible).
  • A member’s account = Share + Wallet.
  • A central pit collects interest and other funds (fines, welfare).

4. Rules Mapping

  • Deposit: Tokens from wallet → member’s Share pit.
  • Loan: Borrower uses their own shares first, then other members contribute proportionally. Tokens move from Share pits → Wallet.
  • Repayment: Tokens returned to contributing members’ Shares; interest goes into central pit.
  • Cycle End: Interest in central pit distributed equally among members.

5. Prototype

  • Designed a board for 8 members:
    • 🟢 Share pits arranged around center.
    • 🟤 Wallets beside each Share.
    • 🔵 Central pit for interest and collective funds.
  • Tokens represent money (KES 100 each).
  • Physical playtest possible with beans, bottle caps, or coins.

6. Cultural Context

  • Ajua: Western Kenya.
  • Bao: Coastal Kenya (Swahili/Azanians).
  • Both games symbolize strategy, social interaction, and transparency — values directly aligned with chama culture.

Conclusion

The Chama Ajua board reframes chama accounting as a social ritual game.
It addresses:

  • Scarcity of trust → transparent segmented accounts.
  • Scarcity of tech adoption → tangible play without smartphones.
  • Scarcity of engagement → ritualized, enjoyable financial practice.

This positions the board as a financial interface rooted in African tradition, scalable from chama groups to broader cooperative systems.