ሰንጠረዥ Senterej
- Senterej is a traditional game of Ethiopia. Played by the royalty of the country, it is (was?) a very popular game. The name is derived from the Persian game of Shatranj, which is turn was taken from the Indian Chaturanga.
- The pieces move the same as in Shatranj, but the game has a few unique rules making it a very lively and interactive game.
- I think this game deserves a closer look if not only for its historical value and the seeming lack of African games in the Chaturanga family.
I have read of a few other games in the family coming from Africa, but known nothing much about them.
Those being, Algerian Chess, Sudanese Chess and Madagascar Chess. - The Algerian Chess seems (not sure if it is still played) to follow the Medieval rules with slight modification.
- Sudanese Chess, I'm not sure of besides a probable common opening move of pawns.
- Madagascar Chess as well following the Medieval rules with possible rule changes.. but the report was said to be not accurate in that regard.
<- Download the rule-booklet I made for this game.