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In Botswana through games and puzzles have always been applied mathematical ideas in their recreational activities and although these activities provide fun and excitement to those involved, they also provided necessary skills needed for adult learning. Among skills taught are problem solving, investigation, risk taking, perseverance, wit and industrious.
Pictured below is a game named “Malepa”, usually this game is played mostly by girls. It is used to test ones ability to make sophisticated patterns with a string. The string is tied into a ring and is held by fingers in both hands to make a rectangular shape.
Through processes of lacing forefingers through the string on opposite sides, entangling (or twisting) and putting fingers on resulting the holes, a player can make figures of different sizes and shapes.
A player can make one triangle, two triangles or a rhombus or a combination of triangles and rhombuses. The aim is to provide as many patterns and shapes as possible. The winner is the one produces sophisticated figures than other players.
