A DAN AWELE GAME BOARD

‘Mancala’ is a game for two players, which is widespread through all of Africa south of the Sahara. Based on its fundamental principles it is a counting and capturing game and comes originally from Ancient Egypt. It is known through all Africa also by many other names, such as ‘Awele’, ‘Owari’, ‘Makpon’, ‘Serata’ etc. ‘Mancala’ can be played in simple, round depressions in the ground, or with such finely executed gameboards 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 player may take the opponent’s stones over which he has jumped. The one who has taken all the opponent’s stones is the winner.
Provenance: Philip Goldman, London
Dan, Ivory coast, Liberia
First half 20th century

Price:  € 950,-