Hello Everyone!
I am still working on writing up a music, and food lesson so in the meantime I wanted to introduce you to a local board game I learned how to play! The game is called Dikgomo Tsa Mhele which translates to "The Cows of Mhele" and is actually a game that has many different versions, some dating back to the 11th century!
The game is played with two players, on a board that looks like this:
or
Each player starts off with 12 pieces that are referred to as "cows"; this is a very special concept in Botswana since ownership of cattle is a very traditional way to tell a person's wealth and status in the community. The aim of the game is to line up three cows in a row on the points where the lines connect. Each time you are able to make a line of three you get to take one of your opponents cows off the board and add it to your own "kraal", which is the Setswana word for where you keep your cows. If you make a line of three those pieces can't be moved until each player has placed all their cows. There are many different ways to make a line of three:
Once each player has used all of his or her pieces (if you have stolen another players cow, that cow is out of play and not placed on the board again) you are able to move your pieces around the board to make new lines of three. The only rule with this is that you may not jump pieces. The winner is whoever takes 10 of their opponents cows first!
This game has many different names depending on the language and country you are playing in and there is a lot of debate over where is was first created. Mill of Morris in English, Morels in Spanish, Merelles in French, Muhle in German, Molle in Norwegian and Mhele in Setswana. For more historical information on the origins of the game, as well as an alternative explanation on how to play, check out:
http://www.gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca/VirtualExhibits/rowgames/mill.html
(I would also like to site this website for most of the historical information I have from this post and thank Elliot Avedon for creating it.)
Keep in mind that one of the beautiful parts of this game (besides the fact that it has rich historical and culture diversity) is that it can be played almost anywhere by making the board in the dirt and using bits and pieces as "cows." You can also change the shape of the board, and how many available spots there are to place the pieces.
If you would like to play a version of the game online, check out: http://www.spiele-kostenlos-online.de/brettspiele/brett-spiele/merels-muhle/ (Its in German but easy to figure out.)
Rata Thata!
Claire
I am still working on writing up a music, and food lesson so in the meantime I wanted to introduce you to a local board game I learned how to play! The game is called Dikgomo Tsa Mhele which translates to "The Cows of Mhele" and is actually a game that has many different versions, some dating back to the 11th century!
The game is played with two players, on a board that looks like this:
 |
| This is the board that we use at the library! |
 |
| This is a board depicted in The Book of Games, written by the King of Spain in the 13th Century! |
or
Each player starts off with 12 pieces that are referred to as "cows"; this is a very special concept in Botswana since ownership of cattle is a very traditional way to tell a person's wealth and status in the community. The aim of the game is to line up three cows in a row on the points where the lines connect. Each time you are able to make a line of three you get to take one of your opponents cows off the board and add it to your own "kraal", which is the Setswana word for where you keep your cows. If you make a line of three those pieces can't be moved until each player has placed all their cows. There are many different ways to make a line of three:
Once each player has used all of his or her pieces (if you have stolen another players cow, that cow is out of play and not placed on the board again) you are able to move your pieces around the board to make new lines of three. The only rule with this is that you may not jump pieces. The winner is whoever takes 10 of their opponents cows first!
This game has many different names depending on the language and country you are playing in and there is a lot of debate over where is was first created. Mill of Morris in English, Morels in Spanish, Merelles in French, Muhle in German, Molle in Norwegian and Mhele in Setswana. For more historical information on the origins of the game, as well as an alternative explanation on how to play, check out:
http://www.gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca/VirtualExhibits/rowgames/mill.html
(I would also like to site this website for most of the historical information I have from this post and thank Elliot Avedon for creating it.)
Keep in mind that one of the beautiful parts of this game (besides the fact that it has rich historical and culture diversity) is that it can be played almost anywhere by making the board in the dirt and using bits and pieces as "cows." You can also change the shape of the board, and how many available spots there are to place the pieces.
If you would like to play a version of the game online, check out: http://www.spiele-kostenlos-online.de/brettspiele/brett-spiele/merels-muhle/ (Its in German but easy to figure out.)
Rata Thata!
Claire
Claire, Thanks for this posting! Our administrator has turned on our blogging function so this is a Beta response. rob
ReplyDeleteClaire,I like that game! I have a version of it at home. It is called men on the move. Even better, It is portable. Leif
ReplyDeleteClaire,
ReplyDeleteVery informative! I liked the article about the game. It seems Botswana is more interesting than I thought! I never knew that cattle were a sign of wealth. I like that you gave straight facts.
Dear Claire,
ReplyDeleteThat is such an interesting game. What I also found interesting is the fact that the more cows you have the wealthier you are. The Pula was also interesting. The fact that The president is on the 10 Pula.It sounds like the presidents are like kings. The fact that their sons become president is disturbing. Thank-you so much
From Josh
Dear Claire the game sounds really fun!I wish I could play it!A cow is my favorite animals !I have a questions though. Why are pieces called cows and why is the game about cows?
ReplyDeleteHaley :)
Dear Claire, That sounds like a fun and interesting game I cant wait to play it on that website. Are there any other games that children over there play? I think it is very interesting that the current president is on the 10 pula note. But I was wondering why is the web the way it is and why are the pieces called cows?
ReplyDeletefrom: Stephanie
Wow Claire!
ReplyDeletePlay a game in the dirt!? That is the coolest/strangest thing I've ever heard! I did not know that you were defined rich by cows!
Dear Claire, We will be playing your game on Monday. If it has lasted this long, it must have some interesting strategies that students will discover. Thanks for this great find and for posting it for us. rob
ReplyDeleteHey guys,
ReplyDeleteSorry it took me so long to respond to some of your comments! The pieces could be called many different things depending on where you are but in Botswana they are called cows because that is how people accumulate wealth.
Botswana does have a democracy and they vote every 5 years for parliament who then elects the presidents. The Botswana Democratic Party has been in power since independence.
I hope everyone had fun playing the game! Keep your comments coming!
Rata Thata (<-- this is my version of saying "lots of love" in Setswana),
Claire