On September 11, 2026, a landmark cultural event celebrating Antigua and Barbuda’s most cherished traditional pastime drew a full house in London, hosted jointly by the Antigua and Barbuda National Association UK (ABNA UK) and Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, the island nation’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The sold-out Warri Games Night united cross-generational members of the Antigua and Barbuda diaspora based in the UK, with a core mission to safeguard and amplify one of the country’s most enduring cultural legacies.
The entire evening centered on the art and history of Warri, a beloved national board game with deep ancestral roots. For many young attendees, it marked their first opportunity to learn the rules and strategies of the game, while elder community members reconnected with the tradition they grew up with, passing down hard-won insights and personal stories to the emerging generation.
Three prominent global figures in the Warri and mancala community led instruction for the event, fresh off their appearance at the VI World Nomad Games held in Kyrgyzstan, where Antigua and Barbuda competed in official Warri tournament play. Headlining the guest faculty was Trevor Simon, Antigua and Barbuda’s own International Warri Grandmaster, who offered personalized one-on-one coaching to new and experienced players alike. He was joined by Seth Bonti Asamoah, President of the World Oware Federation from Ghana, and Augusto Basheer, Manager of Nigeria’s national Warri Team, both of whom provided hands-on guidance to participants throughout the night.
The presence of the three West Indian and West African gaming leaders underscored Warri’s shared African heritage, a core part of the game’s history. Warri belongs to the broader global family of mancala games, which originated centuries ago in West Africa. Enslaved Africans carried the tradition across the Atlantic during the transatlantic slave trade, and the game became deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda.
Distinguished guests in attendance also included the Honourable Chet Greene, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, and legendary cricketer Sir Vivian Richards, alongside leadership and members from ABNA UK and the Antigua and Barbuda High Commission.
A key announcement that capped off the evening was ABNA UK’s formal pledge to sponsor seven young players to join the Warri Academy based in Antigua and Barbuda, backing ongoing efforts to teach and preserve the game for future generations in the island nation. The selection framework will allocate one spot to a child from each of Antigua’s six parishes, with an additional spot reserved for a young player from Barbuda.
Lyndia Bowers, President of ABNA UK, emphasized the far deeper meaning of the event and sponsorship commitment beyond a simple night of gaming. “Warri is more than a game. It is part of the story, heritage and identity that connects generations of Antiguans and Barbudans,” Bowers explained. “Seeing children in the UK learning to play for the first time, while our elders reconnected with the game and shared their knowledge, showed exactly why traditions like this must be kept alive. Our commitment to sponsor seven children through the Warri Academy is about extending that work back home and helping to ensure that another generation grows up knowing, playing and valuing Warri.”
High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill echoed Bowers’ sentiments, noting that the event brought the diaspora community together around a shared cultural touchstone on British soil. “Warri is a living expression of our history and identity, and it is especially encouraging to see it bringing generations together here in the United Kingdom,” Hill said. “The High Commission is proud to support ABNA UK in creating space for the diaspora to learn, celebrate and pass on this important part of Antigua and Barbuda’s cultural heritage. I warmly commend ABNA UK’s commitment to sponsor seven children through the Warri Academy.”
Minister Greene framed the preservation of Warri as integral to preserving the national identity of Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting the critical role the diaspora plays in sustaining cultural traditions. “The preservation of Warri is part of the preservation of who we are as a people,” Greene noted. “This event demonstrates the important role our diaspora plays in keeping our traditions strong and sharing them with future generations. I applaud ABNA UK, the High Commission and all those who contributed to the success of the evening, and I welcome the sponsorship of seven young people through the Warri Academy as a meaningful investment in our cultural future.”
Grandmaster Simon shared his own enthusiasm for the event’s outcomes, noting the warm community spirit that defined the night. “I was happy to be part of the successful Warri Games Night hosted by ABNA UK and Her Excellency, Karen-Mae Hill, continuing our quest to teach, preserve and pass on our heritage game from generation to generation,” Simon said. “It was refreshing to observe the camaraderie that was on show.”
Founded in 1967, ABNA UK has long worked to unite and support the Antigua and Barbuda diaspora across the United Kingdom. Its 2026 calendar of programming includes a full slate of events focused on celebrating the nation’s heritage, honoring its iconic figures, and strengthening the diaspora community for years to come, with the Warri Games Night serving as a key installment in this broader series of cultural and community engagement initiatives. The event embodied the organization’s ongoing core mission: forging intergenerational connections among diaspora members in the UK while upholding strong cultural ties to the home islands.