Mancala Game Board

Possibly Bullom

1 of 3

Object Label

Mancala is one of the world's oldest games and is widely played in Africa. This board, like most, has twelve holes and two large cups to hold each player's game pieces. The figurative carvings, however, are rare, and the board's boat shape reflects the importance of canoes to the Bidjogo. Mancala reflects ideas about how society is organized: the board may represent either the village or the universe; the holes are called "houses" or "villages"; and the playing pieces, which are moved around the board, are called "men," "wives," "children," or "cattle."

Caption

Possibly Bullom. Mancala Game Board, 19th century. Wood, 8 1/4 x 23 1/4 x 5 1/8 in. (21 x 59.1 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.239_SL1.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Arts of Africa

Title

Mancala Game Board

Date

19th century

Geography

Place made: Guinea-Bissau

Medium

Wood

Dimensions

8 1/4 x 23 1/4 x 5 1/8 in. (21 x 59.1 x 13 cm)

Credit Line

Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

Accession Number

22.239

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

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