Mancala: The Board Game in Africa and Asia

Mancala: The Board Game in Africa and Asia

$16.95 AUD $12.00 AUD

Availability: in stock at our Tullamarine warehouse

Condition: SECONDHAND

This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is indicative only and does not represent the condition of this copy. For information about the condition of this book you can email us.

Mancala is a popular board game played across Africa, in Central and Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Its antiquity and origins are still disputed by scholars. Drawing on historical, literary and ethnographic evidence, this book aims to discuss the possible origins of mancala and its distribution. The basic rules and moves within the game are described as well as the diverse range of materials used in constructing mancala boards. The significance of the use of mancala boards during funerary ceremonies and male initiation rituals is examined, along with its role as a leisure activity played by men, women and children. The game continues to be played in Africa and Asia, reflecting its enduring popularity.

Author: Alexander J. de Voogt
Format: Paperback, 96 pages, 189mm x 246mm, 260 g
Published: 1997, British Museum Press, United Kingdom
Genre: Archaeology

Description

Mancala is a popular board game played across Africa, in Central and Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Its antiquity and origins are still disputed by scholars. Drawing on historical, literary and ethnographic evidence, this book aims to discuss the possible origins of mancala and its distribution. The basic rules and moves within the game are described as well as the diverse range of materials used in constructing mancala boards. The significance of the use of mancala boards during funerary ceremonies and male initiation rituals is examined, along with its role as a leisure activity played by men, women and children. The game continues to be played in Africa and Asia, reflecting its enduring popularity.