A carved wooden board for playing mweso, a version of mancala which uses 32 counter slots arranged in rows of eight by four. The slots carved in a dished rectangular tray with rounded corners, supported on a carved wooden pedestal of irregular shape on a rectangular base. 144 seeds serve as counters.

Mancala and its derivatives have been played across Africa for many centuries. Two players compete to capture pebbles or inedible seeds which they place in the counter spaces, taking it in turns to move their pieces strategically. This form, with a board comprised of four rows rather than two, is particularly popular in eastern Africa. In Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar the game is called bao KisSwahili.