‘Mancala’ is a game for two players, which is widespread through all of Africa and in large areas of Asia. It is a counting and capturing game and comes originally from Ancient Egypt and Rome. It is known in Africa under a variety of names (‘mancala’, ‘awele’, ‘owari’, ‘makpon’, ‘serata’ etc.). ‘Mancala’ can be played in simple, round depressions in the ground, or with such finely executed game boards such as the present example. Two players sit opposite each other on the long sides of the mancala board, and fill ‘their’ holes with playing stones (stones, nuts, seeds, or similar). Then the fields of the opponent must be jumped over with one’s own playing stones. The gaming stones of the opponent which have been jumped over may be removed. The one who has taken all the opponent’s stones is the winner.
The present mancala game board is carved of hard, light-coloured wood and has twelve game holes, six on each side, as well as fine, geometric reliefs on the long sides. On each narrow end is a pot for the captured gaming stones of the opponent, carved into rounded projections. Made from a single piece of wood. On the upper surface the object is embellished with metal strips (aluminium and brass), as well as with decorative nails. A small, old break can be seen on the upper edge of one of the side ‘pots’. Otherwise no damage.
A special feature of this piece is its apparent age: it displays an excellent patina on the surfaces, and all edges are round and ‘softly’ worn, due to the many years of use of this mancala game board.
Height: 16 cm; length: 65 cm; width: 17 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: German private collection.

Lit.: ‘Kunst aus Afrika, Amerika & Ozeanien’ by Judith Miller, ill. p. 71, 81.