After a viral respite, Senegal Scrabble addicts are back on the board. “Wesh, wesh”, “wads”, “ska”, “fol”… the search was on for the elusive French word that would unlock the top reward and increase the bonus points.
Hundreds of Scrabble players competed in lush schoolyards in Senegal’s capital late last month, thrilled and pleased to be able to compete in person for the first time in months.
It’s difficult to overestimate Scrabble’s popularity in this West African country.
Senegal has produced multiple global champions in the French-language version of the word game, as well as African champions on several occasions.
The coronavirus pandemic, on the other hand, was terrible for the hobby.
Scrabble clubs around the country were forced to close due to restrictions, and players were forced to rely on their mobile phones or tablet computers to get their fixes.
“Scrabble was in a funk,” says Madicke Fall, a 65-year-old seasoned player.
Despite an increase in coronavirus infections, players have resumed in-person meetings.
Many Senegalese scrabblers met up at the event in Bambilor, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside of Dakar, after meeting online.
Thirty-two players registered for the tournament, but only 52 showed up, prompting Malick Ndiagne, president of the Senegalese Scrabble Federation, to scramble for more boards.
In contrast to English, the letters ‘W’ and ‘K’ are the most uncommon in French. In Scrabble, their tiles hold the greatest points and are prized by elite players, but they also carry a higher danger of losing points if they aren’t used.
“The in-person game is more challenging,” he told AFP, stressing that during supervised games, competitors are not allowed to glance at dictionaries.
‘My wife is amusing.’
In the shade of the trees on the school grounds, Ahmed Kane, a Dakar merchant, sipped syrupy tea.
He has won multiple online events, but he was eliminated in the quarterfinals this time.
He explains the game’s attractiveness by saying, “Scrabble helps me speak and learn French better.” With friends and family, he speaks Wolof, Senegal’s dominant language.
Despite being the national language, only a small percentage of Senegalese people are fluent in French. Nonetheless, the 16-million-strong country has created sporting legends.
Ndongo Samba Sylla of Senegal is a three-time world doubles champion, most recently winning in 2016 and placing second in 2019.
In 2002, he also won the global blitz title, a variant of the game in which competitors have only a few minutes to ponder about each move.
Senegal finished fourth in the 2021 Scrabble championship for French-speaking Africa, behind Cameroon.
Few people are drawn to Scrabble because of the financial incentives in a country where, according to the World Bank, about 40% of the population lives in poverty.
Cheikh Anta Dianka, who won the school’s tournament, received a little sum of money and a few dictionaries as prize money.
“Scrabble brings in absolutely nothing,” contestant Mohammed Sy, 40, told AFP during a similar tournament the next week.
With a smirk, he continued, “Sometimes my wife makes fun of me and says she prefers fishing to Scrabble.”
“At the very least, a fisherman brings fish home.”
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