1922.23.81.7

Collection type

Object

Description

A large seed used as a gaming piece in mancala, one of a set of fifty-one seeds. For wooden darra (mancala) board see [1922.23.81 .1], for fifty further seed gaming pieces see [1922.23.81 .2-.6] and[1922.23.81 .8-.52]. [JC [OPS move] 18/07/2016]

Geographical reference

Nigeria

Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria

Cultural groups

Hausa

Person

Field collector Charles Kingsley Meek

PRM source Charles Kingsley Meek

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1922

Date collected

By 1922

Acquisition information

Donated: 1922

Materials and processes

Material Plant Seed

Dimensions

Length: max 18 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1922.23.81.7

Associated publications

These objects [.2 - .52] were featured in the Museum's on-line fact sheet ‘Games’ produced during the DCF-funded 'What's Upstairs?' project, 2004–2006. [BR 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 8/11/2005] These objects [.2 - .52] were featured in the Museum’s ‘web gallery’ (‘Selected Objects from the Lower Gallery’) produced during the DCF-funded ‘What’s Upstairs?’ project, 2004–2006, with the following caption: These seeds were used for playing a board game called mancala, which is played in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, parts of South America, and the Middle East. Mancala boards are most often made from wood, but can also be made from clay, pottery, animal dung, metal, or ivory. Seeds are usually used as counters, but cowrie shells, little stones, pottery fragments, clay balls, or marbles can also be used. Mancala is often in fact played without a board, with holes simply scooped out of the ground to create a playing surface.

Search terms: Toy and Game, Gaming Piece