Marriage: Has been individualized and is no longer a communal affair. This can begin as early as childhood or before the children are born. - Prayers are also offered to God for protection. 7. As Eaton et al (2003) found in South Africa, for young people struggling for daily survival, protection from possible future illness may be a lower priority than meeting immediate economic needs. - There is individual ownership of property. Courage is usually praised. Today initiation is not done at particular stage in life. - Some pieces of land are being regarded as public land. It could also show how the bridegroom is capable of taking care of the bride. Today choosing of a marriage partner is individualized and the parents do nowadays not choose the marriage partner. bribery, robbery and stealing. Mair, Lucy P., African Marriage and Social Change, in Survey of African Marriage and Family Life. Names could also depict the character of the child. v. Taking oaths falsely. The basic family unit among the Bemba was not the nuclear family. Bride wealth has lost its original meaning and has been commercialized. Young men are taught to be honest in all their undertakings. the pain the initiates underwent. Most of these ceremonies are religious. LAND In the traditional African society, people had a lot of attachment to land. Before this ceremony, the child is not considered a complete member of the clan or society. 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. - Children born out of marriage also provide security to the homes. Many people today acquire Christian names. The major reason cited is that with increasing modern influences, marrying more than one wife became an economic burden. - When the baby arrives, the sex of the baby is announced by ululations. However the mode of dressing has seriously changed due to western influence. 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. He is currently Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bridgewater College in Virginia. White, C.M.N., Tradition and Change in Luvale Marriage, The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1962, 1969. 26 Audrey I. Richards, Bemba Marriage and Present Economic Conditions, The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers. First, in succession and inheritance the man inherits his dead grandfather, maternal uncle, or brother. Some people believe casting of an evil eye would cause bodily harm to somebody. Those who had not been initiated were not allowed to own property. What role did religion play in medieval Africa communities? It is the kinship ties which determine a person's rights, responsibilities and behaviour. vii. We do not sell brides in our society. Dressing The dress code differed from one community to another in the traditional African setup. They affect all aspects of Africa, including care, marriages, and social status, since kinship controls people's relationships, moral values, and attitudes. 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. - Marriage extended relationship and therefore enlarged kinship ties. Changes that have affected land ownership - Today its a requirement by the government that one must possess a land title deed. iii. A woman inherits her maternal grandmother or sisters. vi. Some names are given in the remembrance of the departed relatives. They feel a strong bond towards each other because they are tied by kinship relationships to one another. - Virginity is highly valued and girls who are not found virgin are ridiculed. During seclusion there is sex education, which is meant for girls and boys for marriage. 5 It comes unannounced. Changing Family Patterns: Sub-Saharan Africa, in World Revolution and Family Patterns. In western European societies Jack Goode finds that world revolution has contributed for the transformation of . Clyde., The Yao Village: a Study in the Social Structure of a Malawian Tribe. Kinship refers to relationship between people through blood, marriage or adoption. There is wailing in the house to show how the fellow was dear to them. 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. Choosing of a marriage partner This differs from one community to another. Religion, in the African indigenous context, permeates all departments of life. They act as intermediaries between God and human beings. v. They are taught secrets of the society. Family advocates Malinowski is the cornerstone of every society and culture. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1956, 1966, 1971. 4. Birth and naming 2. Edited by G.A. - A lot of bleeding can lead to the death of an individual. 5. 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. Through supernatural powers iii. 1. Explaining Caribbean Family Patterns. Maintaining ties of kinship is the way to the security of the Muslim nation. Their relevance today Some people still consult prophets on seers some couples may consult in case of barrenness. - It is against Christian teaching on circumcision because God instructed Abraham to circumcise male descendants - It lowers the dignity of the individual (dehumanizing) - One can contract dangerous diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Some have even gone as far as saying that for the African husband nothing else matters so long as he impregnates his wife every few years.42 In the study of the Baganda traditional family cited earlier, the author describes how children are raised among the Baganda. The paternal grandfather recites many names of the clans dead ancestors. Because of this, extended families among the Bemba are not really as large as those found, especially among patriarchal polygynous traditional families in other tribes be it in Southern, Eastern, or West Africa.28 Polygamy is relatively speaking uncommon in this area and the institution is not an essential part of the Bemba family and economic life as it is among so many Bantu peoples.29, The Bembas kinship is based on descent in the matrilineal line. pp.164-202. Headmanships of villages, court offices, ritual titles, and chieftainships are passed on in this way. So the relationship is often based on mutual expectations and is more beneficial for both parties than confrontational and fraught with issuing of orders. 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. Land was owned by the community. Primary kinship refers to direct relations. They could also warn of impending danger. 3. The elderly are physically in active. vii. - The government and churches have built homes for them - They are given food etc. 3. 6) There is problem of correct dosage of traditional medicine. f. The grave is dug in a special place e.g. - Presents are given to the baby and mother as a sign of good will. 5. The clan is linked by four factors. Meanwhile the man and her married sister do not live in one locality, as they must maintain their marriages. iii. Rituals associated with death vary from one community to another. How Names are given in the traditional African societies 1. Before initiation one is not fully considered belonging to the community. He ..also adopts the deceased persons children, calling them his and making no distinction between them and his own children.16. 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. 7. - Kinship defines and enforces duties and responsibilities of individuals. People like politicians and students consult medicine men to succeed in the careers. - There are cases of destruction of land and environment through dumping of wastes. There is no bride price in our society. 3. Download Now. When a girl is getting married her mothers brother must be consulted. 7. Stern norms/ values which promote individualism. The subject of traditional family patterns in Africa is so broad that it cannot be adequately addressed in one chapter. Extended Family: It ensures that children, orphans and the widows are well taken care of by the other members of the extended family. 6. The literature on the subject is truly as vast and reflects traditional patterns that are as diverse as the variations of the physical looks of the people found on the continent. They are given time to heal. In a typical traditional African society, the family comprised of a number of individuals, ranging from grandparents,aunts,uncles, father, mother, children etc sometimes the "sahwira" is also regarded as part of that family in some sense. Magic, sorcery and witchcraft. - In most African communities a widow was inherited by the husbands close relatives. 6. That is, kinship is a network of relationships in which each tie is influenced by, and in turn influences, the others. Some reflect the condition of weather or season at the time of birth. There are societies where prayers are made to the mother and the child. 35 3Audrey I. Richards, Bemba Marriage and Present Economic Conditions. The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers. This may be due to urbanization and economic constraints. - Children born out of marriage inherit their parents property. Types of Kinship. 1. First, the strengths, durability, and resilience of the African traditional family were never dwelt on explicitly and at length. 8. 7. Africa's traditional religion is based on the Ubuntu philosophy, which is a Zulu word for human-ness, and was developed over many centuries in traditional African culture. Depending on the region and the people, these. Urbanization has undermined the role of of the elders as it becomes difficult for elders to operate as the people come from different backgrounds. They advise the expectant mother on how to take care of herself. In the traditional African Community, marriage was considered incomplete without children. (New York: The Free Press, 1963.) - Many people have moved and have settled in foreign lands, which are not their ancestral lands. 2. - Life also progress from one stage to another. Importance of seclusion period 1. The continuance of Aboriginal society is dependent on keeping Aboriginal families strong and healthy both physically and culturally. 25 likes 25,448 views. (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1969) p.30. The Family; Its Structures and Functions. Their roles include the following:- i. These can be by blood, marriage or adoption. 3. Removal of teeth. vi. 9. 4. CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN AFRICAN UNDERSTANDING Today many people talk of the way things were sometimes back many factors have affected the African culture. - It causes physical injury to the victim. - The wife or orphans sometimes get mistreated. 2 William J. iii. among the Luos the man is buried at the right and woman is buried the left. Rites of passage: These are ceremonies that are performed to a group of people to mark important stages of life. In fact a woman was part of the property of the man. Bridgewater, VA 22812 Therefore, the new families tend to generally live near or with the husbands parents. 4. Coser, Rose Lamb., (Ed.) Introduction. (2) Generation: Kinship tie is established between the persons in relation to generation. Western Culture: Has provided the spirit of individualization. Included in this same bigger household will be servants, female slaves, and their children.10 The father remains the head of the nuclear family units. - Courage. I. The birth of a child is no longer a communal affair but a family affair. 5. They can foretell the future e.g. African spirituality is truly holistic. - In African traditional society, each individual is related to the other. fellow Christians. 3. Everybody is a part of the other. iii. Economy e.g. 6. 5. Factors that have affected Kinship system 1. (East Lansing, Michigan State University, 1980) p.11 Unpublished M.A. There was never a distinction between the biological and non-biological kin as far as primary parental obligations were concerned. - Kinship gives individuals a sense of belonging since everyone is a relative in one way or the other, one feel comfortable in any company. If one fails to show respect to such seniors. 10. Each community has a distinct political and social organization. iii. vi. Most social scientists agree that kinship is based on two broad areas: birth and marriage; others say a third category of kinship involves social ties. - Purification rites are performed for the mother and the child to make the child pure. - Marriage enables one to assume leadership rules an unmarried person would not be chosen a leader. The church also gives them food, and clothing and their daily needs. Ngulube, Naboth M. J., Some Aspects of Growing Up in Zambia, Lusaka: Nalinga Consultancy/Sol-Consult A/S Limited, 1989. - The introduction of money economy has reduced the value of land. Through apprenticeship iv. He has no rights on his paternal clan. Importance of Kinship - Kinship system defines how members relate to one another i.e. There are three main types of kinship: lineal, collateral, and affinal. It is said to be the basic and universal in relationships. Consanguineal kinship: this kinship is based on blood the relationship meaning the relationship between parents and children also among immediate siblings. Names are also given in honor of ancestors. Download to read offline. - However the practice of looking after widows and orphans is dying out. It offers a general survey of the geographical environments they inhabited; their settlements, social structures and economies; and their religions and cultures. They also play the role of priests and pray for people. This chapter will briefly explore traditional African family patterns describing the patrilineal and matrilineal families. Rules and Regulations: People in the community are governed by rules and regulations, which are strictly followed. Bantu Migrations Stateless Societies Bantu Societies did not depend on elaborate hierarchy of officials of a bureaucracy Governed through Kinship groups - extended families consisting of about 100 people. drought, famine etc. People could also die due to shortage of food. A mock wrestling sometimes would be organized between the boy and the girl. 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. 36 Lucy P. Mair African Marriage and Social Change, in Survey of African Marriage and Family Life. It shapes such daily experiences as how and where individuals live, how they interact with the people around them, and even, in some cases, whom they marry. They are referred to as the Eskimo, Hawaiian, Sudanese, Omaha, Crow, and Iroquois systems. According to Dziro and Mhlanga (2018), urbanization, HIV/AIDS, and poverty in Africa are all factors that stifle the effectiveness of informal kinship approaches to proper childcare and. 5. There are two main types of leisure: (1) Passive leisure: This is where there is minimal use of physical energy. Wedding ceremony - After the negotiation the wedding ceremonies are arranged. - They counsel and guide the youth on matters of sex and marriage Why guiding and counseling was done by elders 1. Lecture: Nexus kinship and blood has a taste if age-old ideologies. 4. Naming ceremonies also provide opportunity to teach the culture of the youth. Schooling where children spend most of their time with teachers depriving them the time to be with elders. - Patriotism. v. It brings people together; relatives and friends co me together hence strengthening kinship ties. The purpose of sex is purely for procreation hence this discouraged sex before marriage. 5. A good son-in-law hoes the garden, chops trees, and generally help his wifes family as proof of his love for his wife, dedication, and being a well cultured individual. It is also a way of showing respect to God for the gift of the children. Divorce and separation are discouraged. But it makes it difficult to keep track of our kin. Some of the traditional forms of leisure include. These include birth, initiation, marriage and death. These rules would differ from one community to another. - They give direction on funeral ceremonies and advise on what should be done about the ceremony. Problems experienced by widows and orphans - They suffer from lack of company because they feel abandoned. For example, among the Tumbuka38 of Eastern Zambia the verb kugula (to buy) is used to refer to purchasing of material objects or commodities and domestic animals. Many wives 3. they are operational and obtainable in every society around the world be it traditional or modern. 5. Death is believed to be a next journey to the world of the spirits. society irrespective of their origins, background, class, ethnicity, race, gender and other markers of identity. - They negotiate for peace in time of war with another community. Kinship relationships were and still are important among African communities. They also do the work of advisors e.g. Traditional kinship structures remain important in many First Nations communities today. Communal activities: People participate in communal activities e.g. Once the proposals are made, the parents and relatives would begin marriage negotiations. Almost 30% of all single-parent families headed by women are officially poor. Furthermore, the woman will bear children and thus enrich her husband and the wider circle of relatives from both sides. The common descriptions of the African traditional family in the literature is Eurocentric and biased. There is a lot of secrecy surrounding the knowledge of herbs. 7 Nobody knows what happens after life on earth here. - Marriage was a source of wealth for the family. Changing attitude towards death rites Some of the death and funeral rites are still being practiced however some are slowly dying out. Wealth was seen in terms of: 1. Marriage ceremonies brought people together as they came together to rejoice. Dowry seals marriage, before dowry is paid marriage is considered as incomplete. 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. They would also announce the sex of the child. Rethinking the Family: Some Feminist Questions, New York: Longman, 1982. Religious leaders such as bishop and pastor have replaced their duties. - Thankfulness. - A child who remained an orphan was easily adopted into another family. Those who abuse sex are heavily punished. Even traditionally, ordinary citizens could not achieve marrying more than one wife. 28-39. The traditional African family is a very broad concept which has challenging variations across the continent. There are basically eight primary kinswife father son, father daughter mother son, wife; father son, father daughter, mother son, mother daughter; brother sister; and younger brother/sister older brother/sister. attack by wild animals. Thesis. For example, in debt and marriage obligations. DEATH Death is the last rite in ones life and unlike other rites like initiation, naming. They give information concerning cause, nature and treatment of diseases. 7. Children among the matrilineal peoples are brought up in a similar traditional extended family village social environment. Relevance of diviners and medicine men today 1) Diviners and Mediums are still important in Kenya today. NAMING Nearly all-African names have a meaning. - An orphan is a child whose both parents are dead. Girls, in distinction to boys, seldom have time to play games.21, Among the Bemba people of Northern Zambia, marriage is matrilocal. It was written in 1988. A community has distinct beliefs, customs and cultural practices. 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. Due to de-forestation, some herbs are becoming extinct. The youth are taught to be courageous in order to be able to face challenges in life e.g. 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. The histories and cultures of Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia and North Africa are covered . The name gives the child identity. a child born after a long period of childless marriage is called Ogwedhi among the Luo. Importance of courtship 1. Prayers are offered also during time of calamities. The male head has control over children produced by the children of the group. - Life is also considered to be more precious and highly valued. 5. They at times suffer from loneliness and psychological problems How the aged are taken care of today 1. - Men are not allowed to go next to the delivery places. Circumcision is carried out at times in hospitals for health reasons. In some communities as soon as a woman realizes she is expecting, she and the husband completely stops having sexual intercourse until after birth. There has been a lot of interference from Christian religious beliefs. It is also a way of remembering important events in the society. 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. 6. Changes that have affected ownership of property and wealth - Women and children are allowed to own property. Traditional African Society. Researchers have examined the effects of matrilineal kinship systems for women's preferences, including preference for competition, altruism, risk, and political participation. For this reason, the paper serves only as an introduction to the application of Christian By Timothy T. Schwartz, PhD. Elders act as role models to the youth i.e. Anthropologist Robin Fox says that the study of kinship is the study of what humans do with these basic facts of life - mating, gestation, parenthood, socialization, siblingship etc. (Lusaka: Nalinga Consultancy/Sol-Consult A/S Limited, 1989), 38 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. 126. The midwives perform the following:- 1. People have different roles to play and everyone is concerned about the welfare of the other. - They are many types of the wedding ceremonies. - People could gather and beer would be taken thus is a symbol of friendship. 4. Professor of Sociology, Bridgewater College. Twins are also given special names e.g. People nowadays try to show their loyalty to state and not the society. The study of African societies has become an established area of scholarship, with sophisticated analyses that are far from earlier works . Pregnant women are not allowed to handle certain types of tools. iv. Land Ownership: It is no longer communal affair but a private affair. This means that they are looking for death to kill it. LEISURE Leisure is the free time that an individual has at his disposal when he is not bound by duty. In the African understanding, it is believed that there is no natural death. In fact Chondoka finds the use of the terms dowry, bride price to refer to particularly traditional Zambian marriages to be serious misnomers introduced by European missionaries and colonialists in Africa. The Yao Village: a Study in the remembrance of the wedding ceremonies the purpose sex! 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