MANCALA

Archival Articles About The Game

The name of this game - "mancala" - is spelled and pronounced in a number of ways, and is thought to be derived from an Arabic word (translated into English) meaning "to move". The use of this as a name for the game can be traced to Thomas Hyde, a professor of Arabic at the University of Oxford who wrote two books in Latin about games, i.e. - De Historia Shahiludii (1689), and De Historia Herdiludii (1694). Since that time the name "mancala" has been used to refer to not really one game, but a "family" of games which for the most part uses similar equipment, but varies in the method of play.

Many authors, historians, anthropologist, ethnologist, explorers, missionaries, civil servants, and others in their travels have observed people playing this game and have written copiously about what they have observed. Some of these observers were unaware of others who had observed similar games, for a number of these articles suggest the occurrence of the game is unique. This is not so as indicated by the excerpt by H.J.R. Murray. However, fortunately many of these latter authors provided detailed playing instructions for most of the games they observed. Often they accompanied their game descriptions with line drawings and at times photographs. Click on a title below to read the article.

Last update May 31, 2007