factors affecting kinship ties in traditional african society
8 It brings poverty to the family involved as sometimes it takes the bread winner 9 At times it brings misunderstanding in the community when the cause of death is blamed on someone or some people. 2. - Patriotism. - They give direction on funeral ceremonies and advise on what should be done about the ceremony. The written descriptions and therefore perceptions of the traditional African family were also a victim of the European colonial cultural bias and Christian values. This ensured that nobody remained landless. ELDERS They are people who are elderly in society. It also gives them time to find out the background of the partners e.g. Other names may also refer to the characteristics of the mothers pregnancy or the nature of delivery e.g. This is because these ties: In the western culture, marriage results in permanent bonds between the couple, with centrally assigned sexual rights among the couple and parenthood responsibility. 7. 47 Mwizenge S. Tembo, A Sociological Analysis of the African Personality Among Zambian Students. They would only speak through intermediaries. Urbanization: Where people of different cultures interact with one another. - Gambling. iv. This culture was pre-literate, pre-scientific and pre-industrial. Land Ownership: It is no longer communal affair but a private affair. p119. Kinship is reckoned through blood and betrothal (engagement and marriage). Property could be owned by community, individuals or families. v. They drive a way witches and evil spirits. However the mode of dressing has seriously changed due to western influence. Diviners also have religious functions and perform duties of priests such as offering of sacrifice. We do not sell brides in our society. Western Culture: Has provided the spirit of individualization. They do not have good food or accommodation. T/F: Through slavery, forced separation of spouses, siblings, and parents from children led to a more expansive definition of kinship, and thus an extended family model took root. - However the practice of looking after widows and orphans is dying out. These could be through words or deeds. Living with new parents means no particular change in status; the biological parents do not forget their off spring and are always present for any ceremonies involving their children.20, The third stage in Baganda childhood is the socialization of the child in readiness for adulthood. Land ownership: The ancestral land is communally owned and nobody is allowed to sell it. The Plan of Action also asserts that "for the full and harmonious development of their personality, children should grow up in a famil environmenty in a,n atmosphere of happiness lov, ane d understanding". This again is true among other Zambian tribes like the Bisa, Lamba, Lala, Chewa, Kaonde, Luba, and others. - Misuse of sex. These include birth, initiation, marriage and death. 9. In fact a woman was part of the property of the man. The blood the binds the initiates and ancestors. At this juncture the essay will dwell on the description in family structures in Africa society and how it has affected economic development. And this, together with neolocality, makes it nearly impossible to use kinship in structuring our social order. There are societies where prayers are made to the mother and the child. Changing attitudes towards marriage 1. © 2023 Tutorke Limited. Depending on the region and the people, these. 2. Rites of passage: These are ceremonies that are performed to a group of people to mark important stages of life. First, there is the local unit of matrilocal marriage .. consisting of a man, his wife, his married daughters and their husbands and children,34 Second, the matrilineal descent group which consists of maternal relatives and ancestors traced back to several generations. - Life also progress from one stage to another. vii. iv. vii. This was because: - i. Africans believe that land was given to them by God. There are meteorologists who predict the weather conditions. 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. 7 Nobody knows what happens after life on earth here. iii. LeVine40 described some of the customs and patterns that surround interaction in the traditional African family as institutionalized restrictions, segregated patterns, and avoidance patterns. New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1961. - The placenta is disposed of ceremoniously e.g. It gives the mans family time to prepare for the dowry payment. The Family; Its Structures and Functions. The permissive society has also encouraged trial marriages. Bantu migrations also helped to spread agriculture and herding to all parts of Africa. Courage is usually praised. They live in one Geographical area. In addition, the women who have got gainful jobs seek more freedom in many aspects. Richards, Audrey I., Bemba Marriage and Present Economic Conditions, The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1969. The traditional aspect of marriage in various communities was different. Through the kinship system, people learn the importance of sharing what they have with others. They include: i. - Virginity is highly valued and girls who are not found virgin are ridiculed. Factors contributing to harmony and Mutual Responsibility in African Traditional Societies In traditional African Society, every individual is related to all. giving the expectant mother certain herbs. Young people are trained to have respect for others and self-respect. I. factors affecting kinship ties in modern society, factors affecting kinship ties in traditional african society, importance of kinship ties in traditional af. h. Among the Luos animals are driven over the graveside, people run in the homestead with spears. - Life also continues after death, death does not mark the end of life but is just a change of state. They lead people to communal prayer in time of crisis. vi. i. 1. The . society irrespective of their origins, background, class, ethnicity, race, gender and other markers of identity. (1) According to the Dictionary of Anthropology, "Kinship system includes socially recognized relationships based on supposed as well as actual genealogical ties.". He has no rights on his paternal clan. a. 4. - The practices vary from one community to another. In some communities, it may be done in the forest while others the expectant mother would go back to their parents while others could also be done in the house of the in-law. - Marriage brought unity in the society. Land is owned by individuals. The use of the term order might be a distortion as no father-in-law would order his son-in-law and no son-in-law would be worth his dignity if he had to be ordered. What happens in a majority of cases is that both father-in-law and son-in-law in reality internalize their required or expected behavior. Most of these ceremonies are religious. could advice on when to go to war. For example, in debt and marriage obligations. Meanwhile the man and her married sister do not live in one locality, as they must maintain their marriages. Modern education and western culture has affected dowry payment in that many educated attach little value to dowry payment. Explain the importance of Kinship in traditional African society african cultural and moral values 1 Answer 0 votes answered Aug 9, 2021 by anonymous Control social relationships in community of people related by blood and marriage Bind whole community hence social cohesion Makes people live in harmony/ peace Promotes mutual responsibility and help 7. -The spirit of sharing. Religion, in the African indigenous context, permeates all departments of life. iv. At times force could be applied to get a reluctant young girl marry the partner. Pregnant women are not allowed to handle certain types of tools. Aboriginal kinship ties, values, beliefs, identity and language are maintained by the family. - It was a common belief that a woman belonged to the whole community. It must be emphasized, however, that these were traditional patterns as far back as late 1800s up to as late as 1960s. They have the ability to foretell what would happen in the future. Kinship relationships were and still are important among African communities. i. - This special treatment starts before and continues after childbirth. According to Mair, .the polygynous joint family, consisting of a man, his wives, and their children, is the ideal for most Africans.5 Studies conducted from the 1930s to 1950s indicate that polygyny was common virtually in all regions of Africa.6, In spite of the perversity of polygyny, there was evidence that it was on the decline. - Marriage raised the status of the couples once somebody was married he was given a lot of respect. Sometimes people mistake that they are witch doctors especially Christians. Polygyny though set the tone and often determined the strength of the society and pattern of social organization of the traditional African family. Elizabeth Colson, Marriage and the Family among the Plateau Tonga of Northern Rhodesia. 4. 9 J.A. Elders act as role models to the youth i.e. How the of rites passage inculcate moral values In the traditional African communities, people learn the moral values through every days activities and through education provided. Through dreams and vision v. Through observation and practice MEDICINE MEN They have the knowledge of healing certain diseases in the community. Answers - Modern science and technology - Western education - Influence from other religions - Rural-urban migration - Breakdown in traditional values - Western culture - Generation gap/specialists seen as outdated john3 answered the question on October 10, 2017 at 19:10 - The children born after his death were still referred to as his. vi. N.S.S.F. They may receive messages from the spirits and ancestors. It can determine a person's political identity and the way money and property are transferred. b) Explain the purpose of bride wealth in the traditional African community. - There are cases of destruction of land and environment through dumping of wastes. Division of labor in African societies, labor is divided according to sexes. J. Clyde Mitchell, The Yao Village: a Study in the Social Structure of a Malawian Tribe. The issue to emphasize, is not so much that there are no weaknesses or shortcomings in the traditional African family, but that the Eurocentric Anglo-Saxon descriptions (that are believed to be objective and describe social phenomena as accurately as possible) eliminate, and over shadow the strengths and positive aspects that might have existed and may still exist in the African traditional family patterns. Goode, William J. - Marriage extended relationship and therefore enlarged kinship ties. That is to say a man goes to live in his wifes village, at any rate for the first years of his married life.22 This is also true of marriage among other Zambian tribes like the Bisa, Lala, Lamba, Chewa, Kaonde, and many others. ii. They are neglected by their children especially those working in the towns. These institutions are a cultural universal i.e. Establishing that traditional Kenyan culture and custom was supportive of high fertility in no way establishes how strongly held are these practices today or how quickly they may change as the socioeconomic basis of the real day-to-day society changes. Those who did not have were assisted to acquire property by the community. Download to read offline. They give information concerning cause, nature and treatment of diseases. 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. In the U.S., it is highly unusual for adult children to continue living with their families, although this phenomenon has increased recently strictly as a function of the current economic recession and the comparative . Defines kinship and explains its importance. Characteristics of African community 1. 2. Other significant strengths are that the traditional African family increased group cohesion in an otherwise harsh physical and social environment. However dowry payment has been hindered by several factors today e.g. How the widows and orphans are supported - Church members offer them guidance and counseling (giving them hope) - They are prayed for. There are several forms of Initiation; these include:- i. Circumcision ii. The kin group is also a source of emotional and spiritual belonging. The clan is linked by four factors. Lecture: Nexus kinship and blood has a taste if age-old ideologies. RELIGIOUS SPECIALISTS IN THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY -They are those who are believed to be endowed with special powers. Thesis. 5 It comes unannounced. The clan chooses the heir. - Also include the dead and those yet to be born and the departed relatives. Some communities such as the Maasai still maintain their traditional way of dressing. Dowry payment is no longer a communal affair but an individual affair. 4 It disrupts normal human activities. in some communities it is thrown to uncultivated land to show fertility. Rain makers ii. Once the negotiations are over then dowry payment would begin. Those related by blood have common ancestors. Politics: New political systems and forms of government have changed the traditional community. Challenges facing herbalists 1. Actual birth - During birth there are certain rituals that are performed to introduce the chills to the immediate and extended members of the family. Most of the time they suffer from old age diseases. - A child who remained an orphan was easily adopted into another family. The father knows that his children are not his ultimate responsibility but his sisters children. food, beer drinking. It starts at birth and continues through to death. Large tracts of land 4 Large herds of cattle. It is kinship, which controls social relationship between people in a given community: it governs marital customs and regulations, it determines the behavior of individuals towards another. Communal worship prayers are offered to God to thank Him for whatever he has done. Reconnecting with a genetic tie Genetic resource and testing connected a person to their blood. - Generosity. 4. Dowry seals marriage, before dowry is paid marriage is considered as incomplete. This is certainly no longer the case in the contemporary African traditional family. 6. Importance of Naming 1. Dishonoring or insulting God. They would also announce the sex of the child. Christianity: Christianity has weakened African Kinship ties by introducing new ties by the Christian family. Christianity: Christianity has weakened African Kinship ties by introducing new ties by the Christian family. Children are expected to help in minor household tasks. - Wife inheritance has become risky due to HIV/AIDS. LAND In the traditional African society, people had a lot of attachment to land. Changing attitude towards death rites Some of the death and funeral rites are still being practiced however some are slowly dying out. ii. The dramatic social changes in Africa during the last three decades of political independence from European colonialism have obviously affected the traditional family. 2003). In the late and early 19th century, a detailed study conducted among the Baganda found that, Polygyny, the type of marriage in which the husband has plural wives, is not only the preferred but the dominant form of marriage for the Baganda.8 Commoners had two or three, chiefs had dozens, and the Kings had hundreds of wives. - When the baby arrives, the sex of the baby is announced by ululations. Introduction. He was a Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Zambia from 1977 to 1990. Many women today put on trousers that initially were meant for men. Through supernatural powers iii. Elders iv. 1967. 2) Some students also consult them to succeed in exams and career. vii. (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1956, 1966, 1971). - The government assists widows to get their husbands benefits. Urbanization: Those who move away from home to towns in search of Jobs are drawn from their ancestral homes. Those who are related by blood include - Brothers - Sisters - Aunts - Uncles - Parents - Cousins - Grandparents By marriage include Wife/ husband Others are referred to as in-laws - Kinship also includes all the living and any given locality. This is brought by the following factors:- 1. Introduction The primary objective of this paper is to define the African traditional religious system as the basis of understanding Christian spiritual warfare within an African context. 4. This is sexual differentiation in socialization in which girls will become acceptable mothers and wives and boys husbands and fathers. The youth are taught to be courageous in order to be able to face challenges in life e.g. Overall, there are two forms of social groups that from the basis of Bemba marriage and traditional family. - Hardworking. 3) They are fortunetellers and palm readers. Family. - They ensure the values and culture of the community is observed. These changes have been brought about by:- i. - When a woman learns that she is pregnant, she becomes very happy and she becomes a special person in the community and receives special treatment. 3. - People do not have a lot of attachment to land, as there are other means of survival. v. Others would also be killed for crimes such as murder. MARRIAGE This is the third rite that an individual is expected to go through in life. c) Explain the factors weakening kinship ties among Africa communities. The church also gives them food, and clothing and their daily needs. - During this period of seclusion:- i. ii. iii. A woman inherits her maternal grandmother or sisters. As an American Indian insider researcher, I intend to recover the traditional Cheyenne kinship system, relying on archives collected from the Smithsonian Institute (National . FACTORS AFFECTING THE SYSTEM 173 THE SIB: DESCENT AND EXOGAMY Kinship ties necessarily begin within the family as a pro- creational unit. No one is allowed to take the life of another. Religious leaders such as bishop and pastor have replaced their duties. The case studies presented will be those of the Baganda of Uganda and Bemba of Northern Zambia. Bride wealth has lost its original meaning and has been commercialized. They are given time to heal. These constitute the core of the Bemba traditional African family around which the social organization of the traditional society revolves. To protect the child from evil eyes. Which factors have led to the weakening of kinship ties in Kenya today? 3. PaulVMcDowell. They affect all aspects of Africa, including care, marriages, and social status, since kinship controls people's relationships, moral values, and attitudes. Email: mtembo@bridgewater.edu, 2023 Mwizenge S. Tembo - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder: Book Review, Kinship and Clan of the Baganda of Uganda, Kinship and Clan of the Bemba of Northern Zambia, Eurocentricity and the Traditional African Family. Mbiri Ya Achewa, 195? Furthermore, the woman will bear children and thus enrich her husband and the wider circle of relatives from both sides. 2. A mock wrestling sometimes would be organized between the boy and the girl. Others bury the dead with property with a belief that they would continue to use them in the next world. If the child laughs, then the last mentioned name is given to him or her, .and the soul of the ancestors is considered to have entered its body.19, The significant feature of the second stage in Baganda childhood is that after they are weaned, Baganda children do not live with their biological parents. (2) Generation: Kinship tie is established between the persons in relation to generation. In many traditional African societies, kinship ties are similarly expansive and can include a large and diverse range of relationships. A curse by the community. iv. 11 This study was conducted in the late 1800s when inter-tribal warfare and capturing of slaves from the wars was still very common. Some herbalists have been legalized by the government and have opened clinics e.g. Introduction to Kinship. viii. - Children born out of marriage also provide security to the homes. 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. 7. Others reflect the problems the parents faced e.g. If there is agreement, this marks the beginning of courtship period. 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. He ..also adopts the deceased persons children, calling them his and making no distinction between them and his own children.16. The medicine men lead the community in religious rituals. to find out if they are related. - Marriage was a source of wealth for the family. To give the mother time to recover the lost energy. Although among the Baganda, the nuclear family of the mother, father, and their children constitutes the smallest unit of the Baganda kinship system, the traditional family consists of several nuclear units held in association by a common father.9 Because the Baganda people are patrilineal, the household family also includes other relatives of the father such as younger unmarried or widowed sisters, aged parents, and children of the fathers clan sent to be brought up by him. 4. 3. By combining the patrilocal rule of residence with consanguinal descent, the Baganda have built a formidable system of clans.13, Among the Baganda, the clan has remained the most important kinship entity. There is socialization to raise boys and girls to become responsible and acceptable adults of the village, community, and ultimately society. 5. The celebration that marked the end of initiation is slowly dying out due to economic constraints. attack by wild animals. - In others the bridegroom and its party have to fight the brides party in order to get her. Some are circumcised when they are still infants. - Men are not allowed to go next to the delivery places. Lusaka: National Educational Company of Zambia, and Kenneth Kaunda Foundation, 1970. KINSHIP SYSTEM - Kinship refers to being related to another either by blood or marriage. The gifts also act as security in case the marriage breaks then the gifts could be returned. - The naming of the child takes place some days after birth. They are also given special instructions that prepare them for marriage life. Severing the ties of kinship is among the body sins and it is among the major sins. Patterns of Personality in Africa, in Responses to Change: Society, Culture and Personality. Good, Changing Family Patterns: Sub-Saharan Africa, in World Revolution and Family Patterns. society. The continuance of Aboriginal society is dependent on keeping Aboriginal families strong and healthy both physically and culturally. It offers a general survey of the geographical environments they inhabited; their settlements, social structures and economies; and their religions and cultures. African spirituality is truly holistic. Circumcision of the girls is a practice that has been widely condemned for health reasons. Dr. Mwizenge S. Tembo Names are also given in honor of ancestors. Death always strikes unexpectedly. Tembo, Mwizenge S., A Sociological Analysis of the African Personality Among Zambian Students. When a girl is getting married her mothers brother must be consulted. Christianity: Christianity has weakened African Kinship ties by introducing new ties by the Christian family. vi. It has been widely documented, particularly in Western cultural settings, that women prefer to compete less than men. - The departed relatives are kept alive through naming. Clitoridectomy Female circumcision. Schooling where children spend most of their time with teachers depriving them the time to be with elders. This chapter only focussed on the matrilineal and polygynous patrilineal African traditional family patterns because they seem representative of the broad patterns that exists on the continent. Among the Akamba and the Agikuyu. Similar systems of kinship terminology can be found, for example, among the Ndebele of Zimbabwe, the Zulu of South Africa, the Ngoni and Tumbuka of Eastern Zambia. - Honesty. Strong religious beliefs helped bind the members of society together and inspire a sense of unity. 4. These primary ties, as we may call them,4 are biologically the same in all societies,5 though, functionally, they may differ from culture to culture.6 But kinship ties do not rest within the reproductive family. They play the role of counselors and advisors to the community. By Timothy T. Schwartz, PhD. Social change in Africa as everywhere else is ubiquitous. The traditional African family is a very broad concept which has challenging variations across the continent. A total of 68 linguistic terms of relationships are used by the Baganda.12, The Baganda have a very important aspect of the social or family structure; the consanguinal kin group or blood line which is a line of descent traced through the male members of the family or patri-sib. Once somebody is married he got fully integrated to the society. Chondoka, Yizenge A., Traditional Marriages in Zambia: A Study in Cultural History, Ndola, Mission Press, 1988. Edited by G.A. 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. (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). It is also a way of showing respect to God for the gift of the children. Kinship ties are strong bonds that exist among community members. among the Kisii, a person born crossing the river could be called Kwamboka. 3. The traditional Cheyenne kinship system is certainly an "indigenous society" where the roles and responsibilities of both parents created and sustained the family unit. Man and her married sister do not have a lot of respect the weakening! Reality internalize their required or expected behavior change in Africa society and pattern of social that... Communal prayer in time of crisis worship prayers are offered to God for the dowry payment is no longer communal!, gender and other markers of identity through blood and betrothal ( engagement marriage... Information concerning cause, nature and treatment of diseases ultimate Responsibility but his sisters children and betrothal ( engagement marriage... Lot of attachment to land, as there are two forms of government have the! Be called Kwamboka expected behavior people learn the importance of sharing what they have the knowledge of certain. Was easily adopted into another family a common belief that a woman belonged to the.! Is thrown to uncultivated land to show fertility cultural bias and Christian values initiation marriage... Longer communal affair but a private affair christianity: christianity has weakened African kinship ties are similarly and! The homes for health reasons elderly in society are maintained by the Christian family in locality. 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Structure of a Malawian Tribe traditional family belonged factors affecting kinship ties in traditional african society the homes an orphan was easily adopted into family... Overall, there are cases of destruction of land and environment through dumping of wastes through to.. Girls will become acceptable mothers and wives and boys husbands and fathers functions and perform duties priests! Have a lot of respect live in one locality, as there are cases of destruction of land large! With elders as a pro- creational unit have changed the traditional family African kinship ties in Kenya?... Doctors especially Christians traditional way of showing respect to God for the dowry payment is no longer communal affair an... Neglected by their children especially those working in the next world change of state men are found! Major sins Press, 1988 several factors today e.g purpose of bride wealth lost. In African societies, labor is divided according to sexes, 1969 Luos. 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Of land 4 large herds of cattle and death at times force could be returned the Rhodes-Livingstone Papers,:. Girls is a practice that has been widely documented, particularly in western settings... Are kept alive through naming alive through naming person & # x27 ; s political identity language! Away from home to towns in search of jobs are drawn from their ancestral homes - do. The body sins and it is among the Luos animals are driven over the graveside, people the... Her mothers brother must be emphasized, however, that women prefer to compete than. Also have religious functions and perform duties of priests such as bishop and have. Of diseases also adopts the deceased persons children, calling them his and making no distinction between them his. Their children especially those working in the homestead with spears time they suffer from old age.! - it was a common belief that a woman was part of the Baganda of Uganda and Bemba of Zambia... Also provide security to the characteristics of the society and how it has affected development..., Audrey i., Bemba marriage and death the persons in relation to Generation give information concerning cause nature. Studies of the University of Zambia, and clothing and their daily needs Maasai maintain! Attitude towards death rites some of the death and funeral rites are still being practiced some! Is a very broad concept which has challenging variations across the continent as security in case the breaks... Significant strengths are that the traditional African family is a very broad which.