Mankala is considered one of the old heritage games that reflect the Syrian popular memory, combining strategic thinking with entertainment. It has been passed down through generations for decades in homes, cafes, and popular councils. The game is distinguished by its reliance on counting and transferring pebbles between holes according to precise rules that require focus and quick wit, making it part of the cultural heritage worthy of documentation and study.
As part of the "Pulse of Heritage" segment, which highlights Syrian popular heritage, this report focuses on a game that transcended entertainment to become part of the memory of homes and cafes, bringing adults and children together around a simple wooden board and preserving aspects of customs for meeting and communication between generations. Mankala belongs to a wide range of mental games known in different cultures. Although various forms of it have spread across regions of the world, it is difficult to determine its exact date of origin or attribute it to a specific civilization.
A Game Preserving the Memory of Councils
Syria appears in the study by American researcher Stuart Kolman, "Mankala, the National Game of Africa," published in 1896. He mentions that Syrians called the game "Mankala" and described its spread in cafes and among children. He also documented the existence of a game board from Beirut within the collections of the American National Museum, indicating its presence in Syrian social life in the late 19th century. One of the common forms of Mankala consists of a wooden board with two opposing rows, each containing seven small holes, and typically uses 98 pebbles, distributed with seven pebbles in each hole.
Multiple Forms and Different Rules
Mankala in Syria was not limited to a single method. Researcher Kolman documented two forms of its practice, named "Crazy Play" and "Wise Play" or "Sensible Play." He clarified that these two forms differ in the way pebbles are distributed and the choice of the hole from which the player starts. In the first, victory depends less on the player's skill and more on the initial distribution method, while the second requires calculating the position of the last falling pebble. This diversity reflects differences in the game's rules and methods of practice, even within a single local environment.
Secrets of Mankala and Its Rules
In a statement to SANA, Ibrahim Ismail Al-Qattah, a player and expert in the Mankala game, said: "It is one of the old popular games whose history dates back, according to what is circulated in historical references, to about 1400 BC, and it is considered one of the well-known heritage games in Syria and the Middle East." Al-Qattah clarified that Mankala is a two-player game that relies on intelligence, quick calculation, and concentration, requiring the player to plan ahead when transferring and distributing pebbles between holes. He pointed out that it resembles chess in terms of the need for strategic thinking and anticipating the opponent's moves.
Documenting Mankala and Reviving It Among Generations
The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of 2003 emphasizes the importance of documentation, research, and the transfer of knowledge between generations as means of protecting popular heritage and ensuring its continuity. In this context, there is a need to record Mankala's tools, rules, hole names, and methods of practice, and to benefit from the narratives of elders and skilled players to preserve its details and diverse local forms. Preserving the game is not limited to documenting it and recalling its memories, but requires keeping it present in daily life by encouraging children and youth to learn and practice it, and incorporating it into school activities and cultural festivals.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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