Under the great baobab tree, we gather for a feast, great and small
Forsaking any chores that may hold us down.

We watch the battles that are fought on a bench, won by words and mind
Dexterous fingers hovering over the beloved ayo game, hovering, pondering before they swoop down-
Hungry hawks homing in for a kill

The battle is on- fought with words and mind.
No place for the faint hearted to stand.
The brave may well boast of his exploits
Scooping the balls of victory from one kingdom to the other
Dropping his marks like a lion wets a tree to mark his presence.
Oh, ayo, the game that you give!

We stand in awe as we watch
Eyes pondering like the players’
Expecting a winner and hoping
until one shows forth
The one who understands this game of the ancients

Ayo is for the player
Ayo plays the player who knows no patience.