Nubian Jak

Nubian Jak is an board game that combines questions on historical facts with pop trivia, to highlight some of the achievements by people of color globally. The game requires players to use strategy and skill, with a bit of luck, to “Out Jak” and “Chill Out” opponents, while trying to get their own pieces to separate home zones on the board. Movement is determined by rolling a die and answering questions when required to do so.

History

Nubian Jak was created in 1994 by Jak Beula, a social worker with Islington Council. After working with some young people who seemed disaffected and marginalised by society, he decided to produce an Afro-centric board game that would look at positive black role models in Britain and Europe. He tried to patent the name Union Black but his application was denied as there was already a game in existence called Union. So instead he combined the words “Nubian” (meaning black) and “Jak” (without the letter C) to create the name.

Release

On 16 November 1994, 1000 promotional copies of Nubian Jak arrived at a small office in Clapham Junction, south London. A month later, the game was introduced to selected outlets in the capital, including Hamley's of London. This coincided with a Christmas marketing campaign by the radio station Choice FM and The Voice newspaper. Within two weeks the game was out of stock, outselling Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly combined in Morleys of Brixton and Selbys in London’s Holloway Road.