Chess Originated In Africa
Joseph A. Bailey, II, M.D.
Thursday, 14 February 2008
In Ancient Egypt, games were part of religious life. Their most popular game was Senat in which counters, or markers, were moved around a game board. Winning the game came by one player removing all of his/her pieces before the opponent did (Hawass,Tutankhamun, p235). A wall painting on the tomb of the Egyptian queen Nefretari, wife of Ramses II (1304-1237 BC), shows her playing Senat. It symbolizes the struggle between good and evil as well as stands magically for rebirth and resurrection. The African games known as Mancala or Wari are among the oldest games, dating back at least to 5000 BC. In these games, beans, seeds, and other small objects were moved around a playing board with hollowed out cups. A player tried to capture as many objects as possible. Both Senat and Mancala games and four other types were discovered when the tomb of Tutankhamen — an Egyptian king who reigned from 1348-1339 BC — was discovered. An Egyptian board game of primitive “checkers” from 1000 BC is in the British Museum. Another type — called Nine Men’s Morris, Mill, Morelles, or Morels — has been found carved in the roofing slabs of an Egyptian temple and dating between 1400 and 1300 BC. The object of the game, of which there are many versions, is for each player to try to capture an opponent’s piece and to prevent the opponent from moving any pieces. Note how closely this resembles Chess as we know it today.
But Western literature admits that the origin of Chess is uncertain. Whenever such a statement is made, experience has taught me that the uncertainty most likely indicates it originated in Africa. Many Western scholars believe chess started in Pakistan as an offspring of a Hindu game under the Sanskrit name “Chaturanga” about 500 AD. Others say it is from India or China. Then the game spread to Persia where it was given the name “Shah” (which means “king”) and “Shah mat” (‘the king is dead’). The Arabs learned the game when they conquered Persia in the 600’s and they introduced it into Europe by way of Spain, Sicily, and Constantinople. The pieces were named for roles in the courts of kings during the Middle Ages-king, queen, knight, and bishop. Chess’ strategy and play are modeled on how wars were fought in the Middle Ages. By the 16th century chess moves had assumed their modern form.
Chess is a board game consisting of a miniature battlefield whereby the opponents engage in organized attacks and defense, each conducted with the definite objective of protecting ones king from being trapped or “checkmated” (i.e. where the king is unable to escape capture). Every new game is a different battle and the players are the generals who plan the battle. Chess is one of the oldest of all games of pure mental skill as well as one of the most interesting and mind focusing and challenging of all board games. Every game of chess can be recorded in the form of a code so that after the game is over it can be studied to learn what was done properly and improperly. “After-study” is fundamental to any thinking process that calls for choices, decisions and solutions.
Source: www.blackvoicenews.com
Susan ftw!
What a silly logic:
“But Western literature admits that the origin of Chess is uncertain. Whenever such a statement is made, experience has taught me that the uncertainty most likely indicates it originated in Africa.”
Chess is distinct from several board games that involved capturing your opponents pieces – these similar games include shogi, checkers etc. and should in no way be confused with chess.
Wikipedia (Chess) atleast seems to be more accurate than the aforementioned source, as it cites several studies, scholars and possibilities, and provides a clearer picture.
Sure! Just like claiming Africans were the same as Ancient Egyptians!
Rubbish.
Chess originated from Manchesster.
Everyone knows that.
In August 2007, British Museum Press published “Ancient Board Games in Perspective,” a book with individual sections on different ancient games, written by top scholars. The chess section is written by Michael Mark, probably the world’s top authority in ancient chess history as well as antique/ancient chess sets, pieces, etc.
Mr. Mark’s extensive scholarly research does not come to the same conclusion as Dr. Bailey’s strange remark, “But Western literature admits that the origin of Chess is uncertain. Whenever such a statement is made, experience has taught me that the uncertainty most likely indicates it originated in Africa.”
In Africa, I did play Awale (or Mangola, the other name of this game). It has absolutely nothing to do with chess.
Does anyone know that Black Africa has never produced a Grandmaster?
A sad reminder one of the possible veracity of Professor James Watson’s recent claims.
Regarding: “Does anyone know that Black Africa has never produced a Grandmaster?
A sad reminder one of the possible veracity of Professor James Watson’s recent claims.”
Neither has Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan or Cambodia, does that mean that people in those countries are genetically cursed?
The US has produced very few native born GMs (most of ours are overseas imports) compared to, say, Russia or Azerbaijan, or Germany- does that mean that the USA is stupider than these countries? Only a few of those are non-Jewish. Does that mean that Gentiles are dumb?
Consider the implications before implying…
Incidentally, Zambia is home to Amon Simotuwe who is currently classified as a “candidate GM” as he has achieved three GM norms. Botwswana is home to Tudesto Sabure, the WGM.
Brad Hoehne (non GM)
Thank you Brad… Somehow the mention of Africa ignites some kind of mean spirit in some Americans.
this is better than what i learn in history class!!
WCM Claudia Munoz
4th grade
womancandidatemaster.blogspot.com
“Another type — called Nine Men’s Morris….The object of the game, of which there are many versions, is for each player to try to capture an opponent’s piece and to prevent the opponent from moving any pieces. Note how closely this resembles Chess as we know it today.”
This author is totally ignorant of chess.
As we well know,the actual origins of chess may well be hidden in the fog of the distant past. However the precursor to chess ‘chaturanga’ was played in India,very long ago. Please, not ‘Pakistan’ which is just a name for a new nation. Perhaps more accurate to say ‘Hindoostan’ as all that area was then populated by Hindu’s only. Of course China another great civilization,will also lay claim to having played some form of chess. If we don’t know let’s not bicker. A great game despite the fact that computers have put us in our place. Well that is the job of a good computer anyway. Unfortunately I have to agree with the great late Bobby Fischer, that most chess GM’s are ‘cheaters’ I suppose he meant that these days many who are less gifted than he was, still attain a high ranking,due to the assistance of computers and the internet.After all the ability to analyse well,sans computer help does not come to all.
A quick look on any decent map would indicate that Egypt is part of the African Continent. Thank you, Brad for letting us know the location of the GM-elects. I concur with the blogger who said that the mention of African ignites mean-spiritedness in folks. It’s a sad commentary…
Our culture has benefited from the imput of everyone–and let’s not forget that! And stop giving Black people the ammo to call us racists! All of us are not–but you couldn’t prove it by some of these comments.
Chess is NOT known as “Shah mat” in Persian and Arabic – it’s called “Shatranj”, a word that obviously derives from the Sanskrit name for the game “Chaturanga”. It’s obvious from both the name and form of the game that chess came from India.
This article is nothing more than Afrocentric nonsense. (The Afrocentrists also claim that many historical figures were black, Hannibal, Beethoven, even the entire ancient Egyptian race).
Hikaru Nakamura’s father was Japanese and his mother is American. He was born in Japan but raised in America. Does he count a Japanese or American GM?
10:23,
How do you know that the moron of 8:28 is an American? Apparently 8:28 is not the only person who foolishly bashes groups by stereotypes that pollute his own mind.
I would call anyone who calls the US their home an “American GM”. Nakamura, Seirawan, and all of the Russian, Latvian, Azeri, German etc,. GMs who have moved to the US and reside there more or less permanently, are “American”. Fabiano Likewise, Caruana, now living in Italy, though born in the US, can be fairly called an “Italian GM.”
Regarding the origins of chess, I think it’s fair to say that Chess, like many other things, has a multiplicity of origins. I don’t think it is likely that some single person sat down one day and came up with “Shatranj” or “Shah Mat” or whatever out of whole cloth without reference to anything that came before it. More likely, the creation of that game was inspired or influenced by something (or some things) that came before it. The precursors are likely to have migrated from many places.
Brad H.
Chess came from planet Venus and was brought to Earth by ancient African space astronauts who then built the Pyramids and the Great Wall of China.
Amon Simutowe is a great talent and maybe the first real GM level player from sub-Saharan Africa. A guy without much resources or training who did amazingly well at World Junior level.
However, that lady from Botswana is not a WGM in strength, she won some African championship at 1800 level and was awarded the title.
Here is a response to the article on The Chess Drum:
http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=164