Abalala'e (Tigrinya for "eating") is the most widely played mancala game in the highlands of Eritrea. It was first described as Abalalà by Harold Courlander in 1943. The ethiopist Richard Pankhurst learned the same game in 1971 from Abba Pawlos Tzadua of Serae, Abba Zacharias of Akala Guzay, Michael Yacob of Akala Guzay and Gabra Sellasé Gabra Amlak of Serae. All these players were Christians who either served at the Catholic Cathedral of Addis Abbaba or were students at the Haile Seilassie I University. Abalala'e was described as Game 1 by Pankhurst.