Bao games from Northern Kenya and Uganda

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Periodical article

Title:	Bao games from Northern Kenya and Uganda
Author:	Robbins, Lawrence H.
Year:	1982
Periodical:	Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa
Volume:	17
Pages:	163-165
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Uganda Kenya
Subjects:	games Suk
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00672708209511305
Abstract:	Bao or Mankala games are widely distributed in Africa and Asia and are especially well known in East Africa. It is generally believed that the game originated in Asia and was introduced to Africa by the Arabs. However, Ph. Townshend in his article 'Mankala in Eastern and Southern Africa: a distributional analysis' (Azania, 14 (1979), p. 108-138) has argued persuasively for an African origin. There are few detailed descriptions of the sites of the stone game boards, some of which are associated with prehistoric sites, and as far as the author is aware, none exists for the north of Kenya and Uganda. For this reason, two sites found in adjacent parts of northern Kenya and Uganda - both of the areas presently occupied by the Pokot - are described here: 1. a site located near Sigor in northern Kenya on the slopes of Tukou mountain, and 2. a site located on the slope of Kadam Mountain near Moruita in southern Karamoja district, Uganda. Ref.