Heritage Games keep tradition alive at CARIFESTA XV

By Tracy Moore

At CARIFESTA XV, culture was not only sung, danced, or staged – it was also played. Two ancestral games, Potta and Warri, took centre stage at the Heritage Games showcase, reminding people that some of Barbados’ richest traditions live in the simple joy of play.

In Barbados, the game known as Potta is a childhood staple. With its simple board design marked by intersecting lines, players aim to place three pieces in a row while blocking their opponent. Though versions exist around the world — in Antigua it is called the Union Jack Game, in France Morale, and in China by yet another name — the Bajan name has endured, passed down through generations.

“This game allows you to think ahead,” explained one of the tutors while guiding two children on the rules and play of Potta. “You cannot play Potta and be distracted. You must watch your opponent, anticipate their move, and respond. It develops focus.”

Potta also begins with an act of socialisation: one player must invite the other to play. With six pieces to place and strategies unfolding, children and adults discovered not just competition but connection. The showcase emphasised how, in an age dominated by electronic games and solo screen time, Potta continues to build interpersonal skills and sharpen young minds.

Beside Potta, the game of Warri (sometimes spelled Wari) carried even deeper ancestral resonance. Played with 48 seeds across 12 “houses” carved into a wooden board, Warri has roots in West Africa and travelled to the Caribbean with enslaved Africans. Today, it remains one of the most enduring links to that heritage.

Tutors carefully explained the rules to Barbados TODAY: “Each player controls six houses and distributes seeds in an anticlockwise rhythm. The aim is to capture as many seeds as possible – ideally 25 or more – by anticipating where the last seed lands. Strategy is everything: players must think not only of their own moves but also about what their opponent will do next.

“Our foreparents used the Warri game a lot,” said one tutor. “Many did not have much schooling, but they could add quickly and think strategically. Warri helped sharpen their minds for everyday life, even running shops.”

At the Heritage Games showcase, Potta and Warri reminded the region that some of our greatest cultural treasures are not just performed — they are lived, shared, and passed on.