Sources & credits
Acknowledgements
The games
Five Boards is inspired by Achi, Shisima, Dara, Fanorona, and Morabaraba—strategy-game traditions carried, taught, adapted, and played by communities across Africa. Bencode Studio does not claim ownership of those traditions.
Review standard
Each digital board is documented and reviewed separately. Public descriptions distinguish sourced tradition from a convention introduced by the digital implementation. Where credible sources or living practice differ, the app should name the implemented ruleset instead of presenting one version as universal.
Current status
- Achi is an internal-beta module.
- Shisima is a playable development slice with an accepted rules baseline.
- Dara is provisionally implemented and awaits final rules and cultural review.
- Fanorona and Morabaraba remain previews.
Corrections
Knowledge of these games lives beyond any single document. If you can improve a rule, name, attribution, pronunciation, translation, or cultural description, email info@bencodestudio.com. Please include the board, proposed correction, and supporting context or source.
Production
Product design, software, writing, and digital presentation are produced by Bencode Studio LLC in Washington, DC. Detailed source citations and third-party software notices will be expanded alongside each board before public release.