Quick Facts About Fafi

• Fafi uses 36 numbers, each linked to symbols and dreams
• Also known as “Mo-China” or “Fah-Fee” in South Africa
• Street Fafi games are not regulated by gambling laws
• Licensed betting sites offer legal Lucky Numbers games
• Always gamble responsibly and within your means

1. What is Fafi?

Fafi is a popular numbers game played in South African townships. It is also called “Mo-China” or “Fah-Fee”. The name comes from its Chinese origins. Players choose numbers between 1 and 36. Each number has special meanings linked to dreams, animals, people, and everyday things.

The game is simple. You have a dream. You look up what you dreamed about. The guide tells you which number matches your dream. You then use that number to place a bet.

For example, if you dream about a cat, you would look for “Cat” in the guide. Cat is number 20. So you would bet on number 20.

2. History and Cultural Meaning

Fafi came to South Africa with Chinese workers. They arrived in the early 1900s to work in the gold mines. They brought the game from China, where similar number games had been played for centuries.

By the 1930s, Fafi was well established in South African communities. The game became known as “Mo-China” in isiZulu. This means “Chinese” and refers to the people who run the games.

How Traditional Fafi Works

In traditional Fafi, a “Fafi man” drives to different spots in the township. These spots are called “banks”. The Fafi man uses hand signals to show the winning number. This happens twice a day, usually morning and afternoon.

Players give their bets to a “runner”. This is a local person who collects bets and pays out winnings. If you win, you usually get 26 times your bet back. So a R10 bet could win R260.

✅ 3. How to Use Fafi Numbers

Step 1: Remember Your Dream

Write down your dream as soon as you wake up. The sooner you do this, the better.

Step 2: Find the Key Elements

Break your dream into its main parts. Focus on the most vivid parts.

Step 3: Look Up Each Element

Use the A-Z guide below to find numbers for each dream element.

4. Complete Fafi Numbers 1-36

5. Extended Fafi Numbers 37-52

6. Complete A-Z Fafi Dream Guide

Use this alphabetical list to quickly find the number for any dream element.

A

Accident-3 • Adult-49 • Airport-39 • Ambulance-46 • Ancestor-18 • Angel-3 • Ants-31 • Apple-23 • Army-43 • Arrow-37 • Astronaut-43 • Aunt-35 • Avocado-8

B

Baby-9 • Baby(Newborn)-27 • Bad man-26 • Bad woman-15 • Balloons-38 • Bathroom-50 • Beard-46 • Bed-4 • Bedroom-36 • Bees-36 • Beer-6 • Bible-7 • Bicycle-11 • Big fire-31 • Big fish-13 • Big house-25 • Birth-40 • Bishop-31 • Blood-36 • Boat-10 • Body-20 • Boxer-25 • Braai-14 • Bread-19 • Brother-6 • Brush-52 • Bus-12 • Bush-26 • Butterfly-18

C

Cake-17 • Camel-42 • Car-51 • Carnival-47 • Carrot-51 • Castle-33 • Cat-20 • Cattle-41 • Cave-41 • Cheese-17 • Chickens-7 • Chief-2 • Chocolate-49 • Church-25 • Cigars-36 • Circus-49 • Clock-40 • Clothes-35 • Clown-48 • Coffin-16 • Computers-45 • Cooking-37 • Cow-13 • Crocodile-38 • Crown-23

D

Dead man-4 • Dead woman-12 • Desert-41 • Detective-14 • Devil-9 • Diamond-17 • Doctor-23 • Dog-27 • Door-42 • Dress-16 • Driving-30 • Drunk-11 • Ducks-12 • Dwarf-40

E – F

Eagle-52 • Eating-24 • Eggs-10 • Elephant-21 • Eye(Left)-1 • Eye(Right)-18 • Falling-39 • Farm-9 • Fat man-8 • Feathers-31 • Fight-5 • Fire(Big)-31 • Fire(Small)-12 • Fireworks-38 • Fish(Big)-13 • Fish(Small)-28 • Flowers-11 • Flying-21 • Food-33 • Football-45 • Forest-30 • Fowl-30 • Fox-14 • Friend-31 • Frog-3 • Funeral-26

G – H

Games-33 • Gate-16 • General-26 • Ghosts-13 • Glass-6 • Goat-12 • Gold-31 • Gold money-32 • Grave-10 • Graveyard-30 • Gun-15 • Hair-23 • Hammer-6 • Hand(Left)-19 • Hand(Right)-29 • Happy-26 • Head-23 • Healer-40 • Heaven-17 • Hell-19 • Hole-9 • Hook-18 • Horse-23 • Hospital-25 • House(Big)-25 • House(Small)-16 • Hut-47

I – K

Ice-35 • Indian-30 • Injury-44 • Insects-25 • Jam-20 • Jewellery-45 • Jockey-2 • Judge-11 • Juice-9 • Karma-5 • Kettle-35 • Key-46 • Kill-15 • King-1 • Kiss-35 • Kite-47 • Knife-21

L – M

Lawyer-37 • Letter-16 • Lightning-47 • Lion-7 • Lioness-24 • Little boy-33 • Little girl-19 • Loafer-8 • Lockdown-26 • Lotto-1 • Madman-26 • Magic-50 • Meat-34 • Medicine-27 • Milk-6 • Minister-20 • Mobile-36 • Money-2 • Monkey-2 • Monster-41 • Moon-9 • Motor car-22 • Mountain-22 • Mouth-24 • Mud-44 • Music-20

N – P

Naked man-36 • Naked woman-20 • Newborn-27 • Nightmare-48 • Nose-21 • Nurse-14 • Old man-21 • Old woman-14 • Orange-51 • Oven-14 • Owl-9 • Pastor-16 • Pearls-17 • Phone-45 • Pig-8 • Pigeon-16 • Pillow-23 • Planets-41 • Policeman-27 • Pot-13 • Pregnant-20 • Prison-25 • Pumpkin-9 • Purse-24

Q – S

Queen-17 • Rabbit-43 • Rain-18 • Rainbow-48 • Rats-22 • Ring-7 • River-40 • Road-11 • Sad news-27 • Sailor-3 • Salon-52 • Sangoma-39 • Sardines-28 • Scissors-46 • Sea water-3 • Sex-3 • Shark-44 • Shebeen-49 • Sheep-35 • Ship-22 • Shoes-22 • Shower-52 • Shrimp-36 • Sick-12 • Silver-6 • Sjambok-38 • Sky-20 • Small house-16 • Smoke-19 • Snail-40 • Snake-32 • Soccer-31 • Soldier-43 • Spaceship-49 • Spear-42 • Spider-33 • Spirit-2 • Stadium-38 • Stallion-47 • Stars-17 • Stick-36 • Storm-45 • Stranger-21 • Strong man-5 • Sun-30 • Surprise-28

T – Z

Table-4 • Tattoos-39 • Teacher-39 • Tears-29 • Teeth-21 • Thief-7 • Throat-30 • Thunder-43 • Tiger-5 • Tornado-42 • Train-10 • Trap-50 • Treasure-37 • Tree-11 • Trumpet-52 • Turkey-4 • Turtle-43 • TV-47 • Umbrella-42 • Underwear-25 • Vulture-51 • Water-3 • Wealth-48 • Wedding-3 • Weird-42 • Whale-48 • Wheat-50 • White horse-15 • White man-1 • White woman-17 • Wild cat-24 • Witch-4 • Woman-31 • Wood-11 • Work-7 • Wrestler-45 • Yacht-35 • Yellow-5 • Young woman-16 • Zebra-17 • Zombie-34 • Zoo-2

✅ 7. Tips for Using This Guide

• Keep a Dream Journal: Write dreams down as soon as you wake up
• Focus on Strong Images: Pick the most vivid and memorable parts
• Trust Your Instincts: If a symbol could match more than one number, pick what feels right
• Combine Dreams: You can use numbers from dreams on different nights
• Look at Daily Life: Some players find signs in everyday events too

⚠️ 8. Legal Status in South Africa

Street Fafi is Unregulated: Traditional street Fafi games are NOT regulated by South African gambling laws. In March 2025, the Limpopo Gambling Board warned the public that these games “fall outside the scope of the National Gambling Act.”

What This Means: There is no government protection if you lose money in street Fafi. Winnings are not guaranteed. You cannot complain to gambling authorities if something goes wrong.

Legal Alternatives: Several licensed betting sites offer “Lucky Numbers” games that work on similar principles. These are regulated, meaning your winnings are guaranteed and you can complain to authorities if there is a problem.

🚨 9. Responsible Gambling – Very Important

Gambling can become a serious problem. In 2025, South Africans spent R1.5 trillion on gambling. Many people and families have been hurt by gambling addiction.

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

• Spending more money than you can afford
• Borrowing money or selling things to gamble
• Thinking about gambling all the time
• Lying to family about how much you gamble
• Gambling to win back money you lost
• Feeling stressed when you cannot gamble

Rules for Safe Gambling

• Set a budget before you play and stick to it
• Never borrow money to gamble
• Do not chase losses – if you lose, stop
• Set a time limit and stop when time is up
• Keep it fun – if it stops being fun, stop playing

10. Where to Get Help

If gambling is causing problems in your life, help is available. These services are FREE and confidential.

What the NRGP Offers (All Free)

• 24-hour phone counselling
• Face-to-face therapy with trained professionals
• Support for family members
• Self-assessment tools
• Help with self-exclusion from gambling

Other Helpful Contacts

• National Gambling Board: www.ngb.org.za
• Gamblers Anonymous SA: www.gasa.org.za
• SADAG (Depression & Anxiety): 0800 567 567
• Lifeline SA (Crisis Support): 0861 322 322

1. Treat Fafi as Entertainment Only – Never think of it as a way to make money. Play for fun with small amounts you can afford to lose.

2. Know the Risks – Street Fafi is unregulated. Your money is not protected.

3. Set Strict Limits – Decide how much you will spend before you play. Never go over this amount.

4. Get Help Early – If gambling starts causing problems, call 0800 006 008 immediately. It is free and confidential.

5. Protect Your Family – Never use money meant for rent, food, or school fees. Your family’s wellbeing comes first.

Quick Reference: Most Common Dreams