History of/behind Bobail?

[Miwarre]

Does anyone have any element of the history of the Bobail game?

The general wisdom, repeated almost verbatim in the sites dealing with it (from BGG onward), is that "it is of African origin", some put it in relation with Neutron, and then nothing else.

For instance, English Wikipedia, not only does not have a page about it, but apparently has no mention at all of it whatsoever in any page!

Does anybody know anything reasonably solid about Bobail? When it became used in Europe? who/when/where brought it from Africa (if...)? Which is exactly its relationship with Neutron? (and which game really influenced the other?). And so on.....

TIA for any detail!

[Shobu]

The oldest reference i could find is 2012 when the game was sold by LeDelirant company and advertised as an "african game" here.
http://www.ledelirant.fr/shop/product.php?id_product=69


For old traditional game reference,you could search through https://ludii.games/ or maybe ask BGG asbstract subforum https://boardgamegeek.com/forum/743500/ ... es/general

check also
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2550738/yeardesigner

[Miwarre]

@Shobu: thanks for the several links. A first glance did surface only more questions rather than answers. Probably, I'll write to Le Délirant asking for some details. Thanks!

[Wiser2k1]

Let us know if you got a response, I'm seeking info on Bobail myself.

[Miwarre]

Still no answer from Le Délirant...

[Shobu]

Still no answer from Le Délirant...

Now a german game
https://ledelirant.fr/jeux-de-societe/4-bobail.html

[alexis F]

I asked chatGPT :
If Bobail and Neutron have almost identical rules, with the only notable difference being that the central piece in Bobail (called the Bobail) only moves one square at a time, it is highly likely that Bobail is a variant or adaptation of the game Neutron.
Here's a quick comparison between the two:
Neutron: Neutron moves in a straight line until it encounters an obstacle.
Bobail: The Bobail moves one square at a time, which slows down its movement and makes the game perhaps a little more tactical, with a different rhythm.
Potential origin:
Given that the rules are so similar, it's possible that Bobail is an inspired version of Neutron, but adapted to include a slightly different theme or gameplay dynamic, which might explain the allusion to an African origin as part of Bobail.
It is possible that this game is a contemporary creation inspired by cultural or mythological elements of the African peoples, rather than a strictly traditional game handed down for generations. Many modern games are based on stories or cultural symbols but do not faithfully reflect ancient practices.

[pellucidar]

The general opinion at BGG seems to be that Bobail is in no way African and is merely a variant of Neutron, renamed to avoid crediting and/or paying the original author.