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Mancala and other
"Count and Capture" Game Boards

The photos shown below are from past auctions on eBay by an organization called Masks-etc,
and are provided here with their permission.
Masks-etc makes repetitive trips to Africa and provides assistance to African orphanages.
You can visit the Masks-etc website as well as their Masks-etc eBay store.

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Luba tribal art from the southeastern Dem. Rep. of Congo. The African game of counting and strategy is believed to be one of the oldest games in history. The word Mancala means "to transfer" in Arabic. That is exactly what you do, you transfer, or move, playing pieces from one bin to another. Large boards like this one were also used in divination. Size: H 26" W 12" D 3" (inches). Sold on eBay by: Masks-etc, August 9, 2006.

Songye tribal art from the sou central Dem. Rep. of Congo. Size: H 24" W 11" D 2" (inches). Sold on eBay by: Masks-etc, August 11, 2006.

Luba tribal art from the southeastern Dem. Rep. of Congo. Size: H 22" W 11" D 3" (inches). Sold on eBay by: Masks-etc, August 2006.

Luba tribal art from the southeastern Dem. Rep. of Congo. Size: H 22" W 11" D 3" (inches). Sold on eBay by: Masks-etc, August 2006.

Luba tribal art from the southeastern Dem. Rep. of Congo. Size: H 27" W 11" D 5" (inches). Sold on eBay by: Masks-etc, March 4, 2005.

An anthropomorphic Luba Kisolo (mancala) game field collected in Manono, a village in the Katanga provance of the Congo. The game board with twenty four holes rest on the Luba female figure belly and legs. Has a number of white seeds as game pieces. Made of dense wood, it measures 15"L x 7"W x 5"D. The vast Luba territory, comprising the entire southeastern part of the DRC, as far as Tanganyika and Lake Mweru, is uniform as regards language and culture, but racially mixed. Although the history of the Luba people is one of violence and warfare, their artistic style is characterized by harmonious integration of organically related forms. The splendid artistic achievements of the Luba are due to a felicitous intermingling of different racial and cultural elements, and to the high standards prevailing at the court. Luba arts counts amongst the finest that Africa has to offer. Artists occupied a privileged place in the hierarchy. The Luba artist carried a ceremonial ax on his shoulder, an emblem of prestige and of dignity of his position. Some apprentices would be recruited from among the deformed, who could neither hunt nor be warriors and who were believed to have a close connection with magic. Sold on eBay by: Masks-etc, February 20, 2005... and yours truly, the www.seabean.com website manager, now owns this one!!!