African Chessmen

A great many different chess sets were and are made all over Africa, in the most varied styles and materials - from the simple rag sets to the lavish ebony and ivory sets of former colonial days. Here are just a few ones I have managed to acquire.

Thornwood set - Yaruba

Cut set made in the Yaruba area in Nigeria - in thornwood, natural and dark - small parts are glued together, for charming poppets - pawns are babies, the king isa tribal chief, and the queen a lady in traditional head turban. This set sports interesting rooks, standing for thatch-roofed huts. Kings 82, queens 88 mm!

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Thornwood - Yaruba set 2

Slightly different set  with roofed huts as rooks, and quite changed mien of main figures. King stands 88 mm.

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Niger metal

Extraordinary set from Burkina Fasso - the former Niger. Foundry pieces, welded onto a base, and handpainted.

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Makonde

Chess pieces from Tansania, made by carvers in the Makonde tribe area, quite expressive and perfectly excecuted.  The Makonde are actually a tribe from Northern Mozambique, who spill over into Southern Tansania - and have long been renowned as carvers, esp. of large masks. These sets are heaps above the standard tourist shlock from Kenya, with kisi stone  pieces. King stands 77 mm, these sets all show traditional Makonde hierarchy. In mphingo hardwood natural and blackened. 

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Makonde busts

This set is bustier than the first - but apart from the strong female element the faces also are much more stylized. King at 80 mm - not a very current variation!

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Malawi

Hardwood set, strongly stylized pieces, king at 57 mm.

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Makonde monkey set

Another variation by the habile makonde carvers - monkey society, kings stand 82 mm. a witty spoof on human society - or just simply a new twist to an old theme.

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