Game Board Item Number: 3326/41 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Oware(?) or Mancala game board carved from a single piece of wood. One end is decorated with a carved human head turned in profile. The person is depicted with short hair, large eyes, a large triangular nose and three marks on either cheek. The board is rectangular with two straight rows of six rounded pits or "houses". The sides of the board are scalloped, tapering in to the base, echoing the shape of the pits within. Between the pits are lightly carved diamonds, or double V-shapes on either end. The base is flat.

Narrative

Assumed to have been collected by Lieber while he was living in Nigeria (1965-1970), lecturing at the University of Ibadan under the auspices of CIDA.