factors affecting kinship ties in traditional african society
Dodano do: james cavendish buittle
iv. This can begin as early as childhood or before the children are born. Grandmothers teach girls their roles and grandfathers maintain law and order .Young unmarried men provide security in form of warriors while boys look after the animals. MEDIUMS AND DIVINERS - Mediums are people through which ancestors and spirits communicate with the living. 5. 3 Lucy P. Mair, African Marriage and Social Change, in Survey of African Marriage and Family Life, edited by Arthur Phillips, (London: Oxford University Press, 1953) p.1. - During this period of seclusion:- i. The traditional healers are still important today especially to those who had let down by medicine prescribed by doctors. First, two animal totems from one of which the clan derives its name. 2. Price, Thomas., A Short English-Nyanja Vocabulary. RELIGIOUS SPECIALISTS IN THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY -They are those who are believed to be endowed with special powers. People nowadays migrate and buy lands in far places. Hotel Hope Ministries is a fully registered South African non-profit organisation established with aim of ensuring that each and every child is brought up in a safe, happy and healthy home so that they can grow up and develop into responsible and positive adults. Urbanization has undermined the role of of the elders as it becomes difficult for elders to operate as the people come from different backgrounds. Culture and values are adaptive .. Barnes, J.A., Marriage in a Changing Society: a Study in Structural Change among the Fort Jameson Ngoni, The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1951, 1970. It can determine a person's political identity and the way money and property are transferred. Laziness was condemned or punished to ensure that people owned what they had actually worked for. It has been widely documented, particularly in Western cultural settings, that women prefer to compete less than men. BIRTH Pregnancy - This is the first stage in the life of a person. Kinship is a social relationship based on real consanguinity. New York: The Free Press, 1963. There are two main types of leisure: (1) Passive leisure: This is where there is minimal use of physical energy. It offers a general survey of the geographical environments they inhabited; their settlements, social structures and economies; and their religions and cultures. Initiation 3. - Widows and orphans feel dehumanized. The man or bridegroom builds himself a house at his wifes village and becomes a member of her extended family group.25 The wife cooks at her mothers house with other female relatives who are mainly unmarried and married sisters. For example, in debt and marriage obligations. 5. People could also die due to shortage of food. iv. 3. Edited by Arthur Phillips, London: Oxford University Press, 1953. v. They drive a way witches and evil spirits. traditional agricultural systems of production and the increasing ownership of land by women, as well as education and access to contraceptives have reduced the demand for large families. Family plays a central role in African society. 3. This ensured that nobody remained landless. What is significant about the various descriptions of the traditional African family is that they are from back in the period before the 1940s and in case of the Baganda from the late 1800s. For example, all weapons and iron implements are removed from the house of an expectant mother. When one dies, he joins the world of the living dead. They are free most of them and can get time for the younger generation. No one is allowed to take the life of another. 1. children born out of wed-lock are killed or abandoned. The size of the clan could differ from one to the other. 5. 1967. Land is owned by individuals. A person's position in the kinship system establishes their relationship to others and to the universe, prescribing their responsibilities towards other people, the land and natural resources. Overall, there are two forms of social groups that from the basis of Bemba marriage and traditional family. (New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1961)p.76. The midwife also monitors the development of the foetus. 2. 3. It is also a way of remembering important events in the society. viii. - Gambling. Before initiation, one is viewed as a child no matter the age. The term 'brother' and 'sister' shows the sex of blood relations. 3. - The introduction of money economy has reduced the value of land. The . Lusaka: National Educational Company of Zambia, and Kenneth Kaunda Foundation, 1970. 1. iii. The mothers bring children of both sexes with the umbilical cords carefully kept after birth. They include;- 1. It is believed that after death one continues to live in the spirit world and therefore the dead relatives are to be given descent burial so that they cannot harm the living. Members of a community could also come together when defending the community against outside invaders. The birth of a child is no longer a communal affair but a family affair. In a more obvious way, this Eurocentrism36 did not treat polygamy, the African marriages and the extended family and any others of its eccentricities (regarded as such because they were different from European customs) as social phenomena that was legitimate and workable in its own African social circumstances and environment. After initiation one is now free to marry and has a right to inherit his fathers property. Young men are taught to be honest in all their undertakings. v. Taking oaths falsely. The case studies presented will be those of the Baganda of Uganda and Bemba of Northern Zambia. the introduction of money economy. 8. Meanwhile, the median income of married-couple families is much higher ($72,589). Actual birth - During birth there are certain rituals that are performed to introduce the chills to the immediate and extended members of the family. p.19, 45 Naboth M. J. Ngulube, Some Aspects of Growing Up in Zambia. That is one cannot escape it 2 It brings impurity to the family and thus several rites are observed after death 3 It deprives the family and the community of the individual. Those who are lazy are ridiculed. Christianity: Christianity has weakened African Kinship ties by introducing new ties by the Christian family. Kinship systems are often used for organizational purposes, including the organization of family members. KINSHIP SYSTEM - Kinship refers to being related to another either by blood or marriage. Measures that are taken to make sure virginity is preserved i).Virginity is highly valued and a girl is meant to preserve her virginity until marriage. 9 J.A. 5) Modern science and technology also discourage people from believing mysterical powers. iv. It shows an act of bravery and hardship one I s to meet in life. Large tracts of land 4 Large herds of cattle. Among the Baganda, the clan has remained the most important kinship entity. 4) Some people who falsely claim to be diviners today simply exploit the ignorance of the people. - Rainmakers observe the behavior of insects, birds and animals to predict the nature of rain. 4. Expectant mothers are forbidden from taking certain foods for fear that these foods could interfere with the safety and health of the mother and child e.g. Elders act as role models to the youth i.e. It symbolizes the union between the living and the dead. They live in one Geographical area. The descriptions implicitly portray (to the African and Westerner) African relationships as being negative, rigid and miserable. - Kinship helps to prevent the spread of hereditary diseases. 2003). 6. The attitude of the parents towards the sex of the child is also changing. Such influences as end of intra and inter-tribal warfare with the coming of European colonialism, the Western money economy, industrialization, migration, and urbanization have certainly transformed the traditional African family from what it was 50 to 100 years ago. Edited by Arthur Phillips, (London: Oxford University Press, 1953), 24 Audrey I. Richards, Bemba Marriage and Present Economic Conditions, The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1969). They also lead the community in offering sacrifices to God. 5 It comes unannounced. Marriage 4. Those who abuse sex are heavily punished. It also gives them time to find out the background of the partners e.g. Religion: Africans now get identified with new groupings e.g. How Names are given in the traditional African societies 1. Importance of Initiation i. Urbanization: Where people of different cultures interact with one another. 2 Traditional foster care arrangements are referred to as non-kin foster care. To give the mother time to heal. Young people are trained to have respect for others and self-respect. - Different communities have different rules on where the delivery should take place. Children are expected to help in minor household tasks. The youth are taught to be courageous in order to be able to face challenges in life e.g. Because of this wide spectrum, it is not possible to explore all aspects of the traditional African family. Third, certain distinguishing personal names. (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1958, 1967, 1975). 6. 1. 25 likes 25,448 views. - Kinship ties also provide security to all concerned. This is done by breaking the hearts of relatives by refusing to be good-hearted when they need you. There are counselors that give the aged hope and love. - Children made marriage complete. People who have become educated consider the shaving of the hair unnecessary. This culture was pre-literate, pre-scientific and pre-industrial. The clan chooses the heir. Those who did not have were assisted to acquire property by the community. v. There was a lot of fairness in the distribution of property. Marriage is no longer a must and many people decide not to marry. - Wife inheritance has become risky due to HIV/AIDS. A clan is made up of a family who either are related by blood and marriage. 6. 7. - They ensure the values and culture of the community is observed. 3. There are serious cases of misuse of leisure in the form of; - Watching and reading pornographic literature. Some people believe casting of an evil eye would cause bodily harm to somebody. - Generosity. - Diviners are people who are believed to have the ability to reveal hidden things by use of magical powers Role of mediums and diviners in the societies i. Mediums link the living, spirits and the ancestors. Second Edition, London: Cambridge University Press, 1984, Ch. Before initiation one is not fully considered belonging to the community. - Kinship system provides the peaceful ways of settling disputes in a community as all are treated as brothers and sisters. v. Others would also be killed for crimes such as murder. We do not sell brides in our society. 28 Son-in-laws working under the orders of the father-in-law is perhaps a reflection of how informants or an outsider might describe a social phenomenon rather than what happens in reality. 7. How the widows and orphans are supported - Church members offer them guidance and counseling (giving them hope) - They are prayed for. These relationships which are described in this way are rituals of respect between a son-in-law and his mother-in-law, a daughter-in-law and her father-in-law. Human society is unique, he argues, in that we are "working with the same raw material as exists in the animal world, but [we] can conceptualize and categorize it to 4. As the African society has not been static, changes in the traditional family patterns will be briefly alluded to. They are not supposed to take part in heavy duties or carry heavy loads. Due to de-forestation, some herbs are becoming extinct. 4. In the traditional African Community, marriage was considered incomplete without children. 3. So the relationship is often based on mutual expectations and is more beneficial for both parties than confrontational and fraught with issuing of orders. 10. It is believed that the dead relatives continue to live through children. (Ndola: Mission Press, 1988), 44 Thomas Price, A Short English-Nyanja Vocaublary, (Lusaka: National Educational Company of Zambia, and Kenneth Kaunda Foundation, 1970). These carried with them all the heavy social obligations demanded of a mother or father, daughter or son. 6 Ibid., p.10 Note also that special attention should be paid to the distinction between polygyny being practiced widely among people of Africa and it being the dominant form of traditional family pattern. (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1969) p.33 Lucy P. Mair, African Marriage and Social Change, in Survey of African Marriage and Family Life, Edited by Arthur Phillips, (London: Oxford University Press, 1953). Economy e.g. Western culture and education has really affected marriage. 5. 3) They are fortunetellers and palm readers. When a girl is getting married her mothers brother must be consulted. 36 Lucy P. Mair African Marriage and Social Change, in Survey of African Marriage and Family Life. At times girls could be given to repay debts. For this reason, the paper serves only as an introduction to the application of Christian Introduction to Kinship. Why the practice female circumcision is dying out. 5. In some communities, a pregnant women returns to her parents when the time for giving birth draws near. 4. - There are traditional midwives who help in delivery. 6. theories regarding family structure" (D . Kinship System in African Communities. Edited by G.A. Today many people do not believe in rainmakers. The kinship systems govern care,. The basic family unit among the Bemba was not the nuclear family. vi. East Lansing, Michigan State University, 1980, Unpublished M. A. Thesis. Second, an identifying drum beat used at ceremonies. 1. c. The corpse is washed using water. In some communities the choice is made by the parents. Ways of acquiring wealth in the traditional societies - Through inheritance - Payment of dowry - Through raiding other communities - Through hard work - As a gift from God. - Respect. iii. Thorne, Barrie., and Yalom, Marilyn., (Eds.) - Children born out of marriage inherit their parents property. Elders are respected [32777] [42770]. - The hair of the mother and the child is shaved. Dec. 31, 2007. Caution should be applied when sweeping generalizations are made which make the traditional African family is made to appear static, rigid, and lacking in vitality. 4 It disrupts normal human activities. Some communities have abandoned initiation rites like among the luo; removal of six lower teeth is a practice of the past. This manuscript was written for a book, which was never published, which was to be edited by Dr. Elizabeth Brooks who was a lecturer at the University of Zambia. 4. 5. People have different roles to play and everyone is concerned about the welfare of the other. This has been due to western culture, industrialization, urbanization Christianity, limited time and economic constraints. These three types of kinship are: Consanguineal: This kinship is based on bloodor birth: the relationship between parents and children as well as siblings, says the Sociology Group. The permissive society has also encouraged trial marriages. - They are many types of the wedding ceremonies. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1956, 1966, 1971. Elizabeth Colson, Marriage and the Family among the Plateau Tonga of Northern Rhodesia. largest kinship network of any descent system ever invented. Rules and Regulations: People in the community are governed by rules and regulations, which are strictly followed. 4. Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd., 1971. DeVos, (New York: D. Van Nostrand Co., 1976). 5. However, it is not a form of payment as is mistaken by others. All rights reserved. Kinship ties are strong bonds that exist among community members. LeVine, R.A., Patterns of Personality in Africa, in Responses to Change: Society, Culture and Personality. v. In some cases if a man is married and wants another wife his first or other wives would be involved in making the proposal. If there is agreement, this marks the beginning of courtship period. LEISURE Leisure is the free time that an individual has at his disposal when he is not bound by duty. There is a lot of secrecy surrounding the knowledge of herbs. The medicine men lead the community in religious rituals. Edited by G.A. Boys will live with the brothers of their father and until marriage, girls live in the home of a married elder brother or with the brother of the father. Elders iv. Courtship gives the two families time to prepare in advance for the real marriage. These are many. Kinship is the relationship, including social relationship, that exists between two or more individuals, and kinship has a major influence on political, and economic systems in many different regions from around the world. 2. - They oversee the division of property in the community after death. - There is individual ownership of property. The degree of relatedness of carer to the child, socio-economic status of fostering households, gender and age were identified as factors contributing to the well-being of children in kinship care. The cultural and physical diversity added with the dramatic social changes of the last three decades on the continent makes the family pattern situation so variegated as to defy any sweeping generalizations. 2. - Thankfulness. DeVos, (New York: D. Van Nostrand Co., 1976), 49 Stuart Queen, Robert W. Habenstein, and John B. Adams, The Polygynous Baganda Family, in The Family in Various Cultures. Explaining these changes would require a different chapter. iii. Goldthorpe, J.E., The Sociology of the Third World: Disparity and Development. Each stage has its own features, some of which are perhaps peculiar to the Baganda customs and system of socialization in their traditional family pattern. 25 This book is written in Chewa indigenous Central African language. 6. Information on traditional marriage customs among both patrilineal and matrilineal peoples of Zambia is available in Yizenge A. Chondoka, Traditional Marriages in Zambia: A Study in Cultural History, (Ndola: Mission Press, 1988). 2. The degree of which witchcraft as a cause of death is emphasized varies from one community to another. These Anglo-Saxon or Eurocentric descriptions do not help in the fair and accurate perception of the traditional African family. An introduction to the application of Christian introduction to kinship the degree of which as... 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