Colin Webster sent me details of an African Board game that was new to me and is having something of a renaissance thanks to the work of the SAWU. Morabaraba is an ancient African board game, played in tribal society for pleasure, and to teach young warriors the basics of strategic thinking. .

I requested more information and Colin kindly provided the following details , and a copy of the game rules. I have reproduced them here as I tried them out with my son who found it fun, and the strategies used to be taxing. Why not give it a try?

Morabaraba

Exactly where and when the game started is unknown, but there is no doubt
that the game is indeed an ancient one. The game was originally taught to
young warriors to teach them on how to do cattle raids.

However, the lessons learnt in the game can also be applied to any military
maneouver.

 Ultimately a line of three 'cows' (pieces) must be seen as the herd. Only
'cows' that are not in a line can be 'shot' (removed) from the board. Only
when all the loose 'cows' have been 'shot' may the line be broken.
 

The game does vary from area to area. I have sent you the Zulu version which
is the most popular.

Elliot Mahlangu, 13, a Morabaraba player for the past three years, moves his 'cow' in a friendly game against Colin Webster while David Hlope, one of the world's top players looks on :Picture: HILTON HAMANN, SA Sunday Times

The SPORTS TRUST was the first organisation to see the benefits in the South African Wargames 

Union's programme in developing and accrediting the game of Morabaraba as a fully fledged sport. 

Thus in 1996 the Sports Trust aided the South African Wargames Union financially to help boost the

 much under funded project. 

 Thanks to the initial aid given the project, the game of Morabaraba has grown exponentially and players of Morabaraba are now able to earn provincial and national colours.

 The number of clubs has also increased, especially at school level, at such a rate that the South African Wargames Union is battling to keep pace with the demand.

 Thus on Monday 25 February 2002, Bruce Fordyce (of the Sports Trust) willingly handed over a cheque to the President of the South African Wargames Union.

 The current financial aid given by the Sports Trust has not been made lightly. The financial aid given once again re-affirms the belief that Morabaraba is one of the most popular games played in South Africa and that the game provides many South Africans with unique opportunities.

 For any additional information please contact Colin Webster.

 Colin Webster
P O Box 19275
FISHER'S HILL
!408
Tel: 011 828 4994
Fax: 011 622 6113
Cell: 082 378 9829

SOUTH AFRICAN WARGAMES UNION

P O Box 19275, FISHER’S HILL, 1408

Tel: 011 828 4994        Fax: 011 622 6113

E-mail: wargames@iafrica.com

URL: http://members.xoom.com/wargamesnews/contents.htm

 BOARD-GAMING

 RULE BOOK

 MORABARABA

PREFACE

The South African Wargames Union is totally committed to the promotion of the games of Draughts and Morabaraba.

 For too long the games have been ignored by the authorities and not given the accreditation that they deserve.

 Through many years of effort, the Union has enthusiastically attempted to increase the level of awareness of both the games of Draughts and Morabaraba.

 Promotions carried out include the ever-popular promotion in the Sowetan in November 1996, which generated a huge degree of interest in the game. The skills based competition printed in the paper attracted a staggering 500 000 entries.

 In 1997 the Union took the game of Morabaraba to the people. A competition was held in KwaZulu Natal which reached 96 towns and villages in only nine weeks. Although the Union did not have sufficient funding, and thus sufficient advertising, the Union had a total participation of 36 000 people.

 Ultimately any development programme can only survive if there is continued funding of the project.

 Unfortunately, the Union has yet to find a sponsor who will see the benefit of sponsoring our development programmes on an ongoing basis.

 Thus the Union is, and will always remain, greatly indebted to the DEPARTMENT OF SPORT AND RECREATION for its continued faith, perseverance and loyalty in helping the Union promote the games of Draughts and Morabaraba.

After all promoting the games of Draughts and Morabaraba, is nothing else than promoting the people themselves.

 PETRUS MQOSHEKILE
BOARD GAMING REPRESENTATIVE (2000)

MORABARABA

The Playing Board

Morabaraba is a game for two players, and is played extensively throughout Africa and Asia.

 1)   The rules are known as the Generally Accepted Rules (GAR), and are as follows:

Play consists of three stages:

Stage 1:

 ·        Each player starts with 12 tokens called "cows".

·        Starting with a clear board, each player alternatively places one cow at a time on a junction (circle). The aim is to create rows of three, either vertically, diagonally, or horizontally. Cows may only be placed on unoccupied junctions.

 ·        When three-in-a-row is achieved, the player may remove (shoot) one of the opponent's cows. A player can not shoot an opponent's "three-in-a-row" cows if there are other cows on the board left to shoot.

 ·        Only one of the opponent's cows may be shot at a time, even if two (or more) lines of three-in-a-row are achieved with one move.

·        Once a cow is shot, it shall not be used in play again.

Stage 2

 ·        When all twelve cows of each player have been placed on the board, cows may be moved from one junction to another. A move consists of moving a cow from one junction to an unoccupied junction immediately linked and adjacent to that junction.

 ·        Players may break their own lines of three-in-a-row in order to make new lines, or simply reposition their cows.

 ·        Cows may be moved back and forth to the same two junctions repeatedly. A three-in-a-row may be made, broken and remade repeatedly.

 ·        Each time a three-in-a-row is remade, an opponent's cow shall be shot.

 Stage 3

 ·        When a player has lost all but three cows, then a player may move a cow to any vacant junction on the board with each move.

 Winning the game

 ·        The game is won when the opponent cannot move any cows: or when the opponent has lost all but two cows.

 ·        When a player is down to three cows, and neither player is able to shoot an opponent's cow within ten moves, the game is a draw.