Mancala, the National Game of Africa

"Mancala, the National Game of Africa" by Stewart Culin is a detailed exploration of the African game Mancala, written from an early anthropological perspective. It looks into the game's rules, how it changes from place to place, and what it means to different cultures. Culin explains how the game is played, its history, and where it's found around the world, especially in Africa and the Middle East. He talks about different versions of the game, like La’b madjnuni and La’b hakimi, and how it's played with stones and boards that look different. Culin also points out how Mancala connects people and is a fun activity for everyone, appearing in cafes and being played by kids. The book makes the case that Mancala is an important piece of culture because it shows how people interact and share customs.