- BGG rank
- BGG #1,041
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Jambo
- 2 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,673
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Waka Waka
2012
Rules assistance for Waka Waka
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.9/5
Rules assistant for Waka Waka
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Waka Waka is a board game released in 2012 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Rüdiger Dorn and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Track Movement.
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About the game
"Waka Waka" means "Do it" in Swahili, and what players are doing in this game as African traders is buying goods – hides, salt, tea, textiles, jewelry and fruit from faraway lands – as cheaply as possible. The goods on offer, however, are mostly obscured, so whoever doesn't want to buy a pig in a poke, so to speak, might want to send out his chimpanzee for a closer look at the goods before laying out any money. The players want to keep the village shaman fulfilled for as long as the fire illuminates the shaman, he'll help you in your trading efforts. The other villagers have special skills of their own that you can call on for support. Waka Waka is set in the same thematic world as Rüdiger Dorn's Jambo, which Kosmos first released in 2004.
Designers
Publishers
- KOSMOS
- White Goblin Games
- IELLO
Questions and answers
Waka Waka supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Waka Waka is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Waka Waka for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Waka Waka has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Waka Waka belongs to these categories: Card Game and Economic. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Track Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Waka Waka are: Rüdiger Dorn. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Waka Waka as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.