The Game of Mancala with Reference to Commonalities among the Peoples of Ethiopia and in Comparison to Other African Peoples: Rules and Strategies

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Periodical article

Title:	The Game of Mancala with Reference to Commonalities among the Peoples of Ethiopia and in Comparison to Other African Peoples: Rules and Strategies
Author:	Natsoulas, Anthula
Year:	1995
Periodical:	Northeast African Studies
Volume:	2
Issue:	2
Pages:	7-24
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ethiopia
Subjects:	games Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External link:	http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/northeast_african_studies/v002/2.2.natsoulas.pdf
Abstract:	Mancala is a game whose existence has been documented as early as 1500 BC. It is found in varied forms throughout Africa and Asia. Within the rules of the game there may be found a sense of unity as well as a reflection of the diversity of the many peoples who play it. An analysis of the rules extrapolates the common elements of board format, capture of counters, capture of houses, and end of turn in the multiple lap games played in Africa. This paper describes the common elements of mancala and the ethnography of the variations, focusing on the African continent, particularly Ethiopia. This is followed by a discussion of opening moves and strategies and simulations of a typical game. Bibliogr.