Namibia · African Heritage · Ancient Strategy
OWELA
The Game of Stolen Cattle
For years, African families gathered around holes in the sand to steal each other's cattle. Now you can too.
The Story
Fun Times
Deeper
Than It Looks.
Owela (or Assietjie in Afrikaans) is a four-row strategy game played across Namibia — by the Oshiwambo (Owela), Nama (Xoros), Herero (Otjitoto/Onyune), and Rukwangali people. Originally played in holes dug into the earth, using marula seeds, pebbles, or copper pearls.
Each pit is a kraal — a cattle enclosure. Each seed is a head of cattle. Your goal: raid your opponent's kraals, steal their herd, and leave them with nothing to move.
As for this digital game app, from Namibia... We're bringing it to the world.
A capture about to happen →
What Makes It Special
Built for the
Digital Fire
Learn the ancient roots playing against the AI, and connect with the old ways.
Every capture is a raid. Watch seeds fly across the board as you plunder your opponent's herd.
Relay sowing chains can cascade across your entire territory. One move can reshape the whole board.
Like chess, every pit matters. Plan three moves ahead or watch your cattle disappear.
Rooted in African tradition. The kraals, the cattle, the language — all honoured in the game.
Two players, one device. Hand it across the table like they did around the fire for centuries.
It was a traditional fun game for many growing up — and being able to play it digitally just strikes that nostalgic chord of being transported back to the good old days.
Noita Josob
The Rules
Simple to Learn.
Hard to Master.
Choose Your Hole
Pick any hole on your side of the board with 2 or more stones. You own the bottom two rows. Your opponent owns the top two.
Sow Counter-Clockwise
Pick up all stones from your chosen hole and drop them one by one into successive holes, moving counter-clockwise around your own territory only.
Relay Capturing
If your last stone lands in a hole that already had stones, pick them all up and keep sowing. Chains can cascade across the whole board.
Execute a Raid
If your last stone lands in your inner row, and both opponent holes in that same column have seeds — you capture them all and keep sowing with the combined haul.
Win the Game
The winner is the last player who can make a legal move. Drain your opponent's kraals until they can't sow anything — then their cattle are yours.
Ready to Raid?
No account needed. Just you, your opponent, and 32 kraals.
