Moraba-raba

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A game board played by 2 players. Players take turns placing what they call cows on the board (usually drawn on an immovable rock - a physical space where members of the community usually gather to play.). There are usually 12 cows to play with. PLayers have to black each other's cows from forming a straight line of 3. I can say it's like bingo.

After placing the cows on the board, the players may start moving them around to make the straight lines of 3 and get to punish their opponent by take one away from the board

There are usually 12 cows for each player to exhaust. Whenever each player gets the straight line (bingo), they can take the opponent's cow from the board until the opponent's cows have been finished, which ends the game and whoever is the last man standing (i.e. has cows remaining on the board) wins.

This game is common in Matatiele. In Sotho it's moraba-raba, and in Xhosa/Zulu it's Umlaba-laba

Oops! Just Googled and guess what ...?

Comments

  1. NtozaDecember 19, 2023 at 5:07 AM

    Mlabalaba that’s how we call it as Xhosa’s. This game fosters socialization among community members. I also allows game members to think strategically and critically.. Patience and problem solving are also developed by this game. It therefore develops cognitive and non-cognitive skills.

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