Luo Council of Elders Revives Bao la Kiswahili Tournament in Siaya

In a cultural renaissance, the Luo Council of Elders partnered with the Kenya Games Federation to revive the East Africa Bao Championships in Siaya on January 18, 2025—the first major traditional board game event in over a decade. Over 320 players from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania competed in *Bao la Kiswahili*, a 64-pit strategy game requiring memory, foresight, and oral tradition. 68-year-old master player Otieno Obadha (Siaya) defeated defending Ugandan champion Apio Loy in a 5-hour final. The event included intergenerational workshops, with elders teaching youth the game’s proverbs and conflict-resolution roots. UNESCO consultants documented the revival for intangible heritage nomination. Siaya County allocated KSh 15 million to build *Bao* centers in all sub-counties. This is not just play—it’s philosophy in motion, said elder Grace Akinyi. The federation plans to propose *Bao* as a demonstration sport at the 2027 All-Africa Games.