vii. These rules would differ from one community to another. 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. Second, the continued Eurocentric descriptions and characterization of the African traditional family as some what depraved lead to the use of such terms as bride price, avoidance social taboos, segregated relationships, lack of love and tenderness in African marriages and families. Religion: Africans now get identified with new groupings e.g. Kinship ties definition: Kinship is the relationship between members of the same family. Education of children has been left to teachers. Edited by Arthur Phillips, London: Oxford University Press, 1953. 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. Edited by Arthur Phillips, (London: Oxford University Press, 1953) p.14, 37 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.51 Naboth M. J. Ngulube, Some Aspects of Growing Up in Zambia. vii. 3. D. at Michigan State University in Sociology in 1987. 5. iii. Often only Kings, chiefs and men who had wealth could afford it. The permissive society has also encouraged trial marriages. Urbanization: Those who move away from home to towns in search of Jobs are drawn from their ancestral homes. Children among the matrilineal peoples are brought up in a similar traditional extended family village social environment. 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. A clan is made up of a family who either are related by blood and marriage. iii. Although children among the Baganda are brought up in an unroutinized and casual way with a few rites of passage to adulthood, they seem to go through three distinct stages during their up bringing. They at times suffer from loneliness and psychological problems How the aged are taken care of today 1. The histories and cultures of Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia and North Africa are covered . A community has distinct beliefs, customs and cultural practices. 5. a. Naming ceremonies also bring unity among the people whenever a new child is born, members of extended family would come to celebrate together. 4. ii. Religion: People have some religious beliefs, which promote unity, and every community believes in the existence of one God. - In some communities such a girl would be stabbed by an arrow and killed while in others she would be married to an old man. They would only speak through intermediaries. Schapera, Isaac., Married Life in an African Tribe. The paternal grandmothers drop the cords into a can, which contains beer, milk, and water. 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. - They act as a court of law to errant members of the society. - Widows and orphans feel dehumanized. Urbanization has undermined the role of of the elders as it becomes difficult for elders to operate as the people come from different backgrounds. 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. 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. In some instances a go between would be used to identify a suitable partner. In addition, the women who have got gainful jobs seek more freedom in many aspects. - Wealth is no longer determined in terms of the number of wives or children. Some herbalists have been legalized by the government and have opened clinics e.g. 4. 3. At times force could be applied to get a reluctant young girl marry the partner. they are consulted before installation of a new king in some communities. The medicine men lead the community in religious rituals. There is a lot of secrecy surrounding the knowledge of herbs. 6. - It is through marriage that children are born to the community. They are neglected by their children especially those working in the towns. There was never a distinction between the biological and non-biological kin as far as primary parental obligations were concerned. 8. N.S.S.F. politicians. they are operational and obtainable in every society around the world be it traditional or modern. Phone: (540) 828-5351 The purpose of sex is purely for procreation hence this discouraged sex before marriage. They were believed to have a lot of experience in life. They are free most of them and can get time for the younger generation. 2. Some communities such as the Maasai still maintain their traditional way of dressing. 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. 2. Communal activities: People participate in communal activities e.g. Young people are trained to have respect for others and self-respect. In the African understanding, it is believed that there is no natural death. It could also help in paying of the dowry. i. fellow Christians. The moral values learnt include:- -Obedience/loyalty. Box 169 12 Stuart Queen, Robert W. Havenstein, and John B. Adams, The Polygynous Baganda Family, in The Family in Various Cultures. Those who abuse sex are heavily punished. Depending on the region and the people, these. Are made up of smaller units called clan. 4. Many women today put on trousers that initially were meant for men. Edited by G.A. Second, an identifying drum beat used at ceremonies. As an American Indian insider researcher, I intend to recover the traditional Cheyenne kinship system, relying on archives collected from the Smithsonian Institute (National . It marks change from childhood to adulthood. pp. 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. For example, sickness in the indigenous African worldview is not only an imbalance of the body, but also an imbalance in one's social life, which can be linked to a breakdown in one's kinship and family relations or even to one's relationship with one's ancestors. 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. Some scholars have suggested that this arrangement might be fraught with potential social problems and conflict.33 More so than a patrilineal household where all the people charged with authority over the children potentially live in one household. Main factors which affect social change can be discussed a follows: 1. 2. 4. There are serious cases of misuse of leisure in the form of; - Watching and reading pornographic literature. Importance of Naming 1. Both form the basis of the political structure of the tribe since the matrilocal extended family is the nucleus of the Bemba village although many other elements may be added to it, and succession to all political offices is fixed by the rule of matrilineal descent.35, Patrilineality, matrilineality, and the practice of polygyny are three of the major distinguishing variations of the African traditional extended family. Dowry seals marriage, before dowry is paid marriage is considered as incomplete. vii. The clan is linked by four factors. Economic hardships that has been due to introduction of money economy. v. Taking oaths falsely. This chapter will briefly explore traditional African family patterns describing the patrilineal and matrilineal families. They would also announce the sex of the child. 1975. (1) According to the Dictionary of Anthropology, "Kinship system includes socially recognized relationships based on supposed as well as actual genealogical ties.". Researchers have examined the effects of matrilineal kinship systems for women's preferences, including preference for competition, altruism, risk, and political participation. Bridgewater College Magic, sorcery and witchcraft. - Rainmakers are special people who have the ability to make rain. 6. It can determine a person's political identity and the way money and property are transferred. No one is allowed to take the life of another. They act as counselors and guide the people on all issues of life. They are believed to be full of wisdom. Maintaining ties of kinship is the way to the security of the Muslim nation. 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. The houses of grandparents form their sleeping places. v. Others would also be killed for crimes such as murder. Western Culture: Has provided the spirit of individualization. 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. Challenges facing herbalists 1. 7. Spirit of sharing: In African Traditional Community there is the spirit of sharing of resources among the members of a community e.g. Urbanization: Where people of different cultures interact with one another. The youth are ritually introduced to the communal living. The land belonged to the whole community. 6. One could also die due to breaking a taboo in such instances elders would identify the offender and perform an act of cleansing. These views were expressed before 1930s and as late as 1960s. society. Problems that the elderly face today 1. 4. viii. Piercing of the ear. - A child who remained an orphan was easily adopted into another family. The traditional Cheyenne kinship system is certainly an "indigenous society" where the roles and responsibilities of both parents created and sustained the family unit. If they float, the clan chief accepts the children as legitimate; but if the cord sinks, the child to whom it belongs is considered born in adultery and disowned.18, After this part of the ceremony, a feast is held. 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. 7. Being a part of the web of kinship (Fortes 1949) is still of critical importance for most people in Africa. 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 can begin as early as childhood or before the children are born. ix. How the widows and orphans are supported - Church members offer them guidance and counseling (giving them hope) - They are prayed for. Each community has a distinct political and social organization. 3. 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. Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd., 1971. To give the mother instructions on how to take care of the child. iii. 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. Some people believe casting of an evil eye would cause bodily harm to somebody. 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. Other names can be given according to important events that take place in the community e.g. Christianity: Christianity has weakened African Kinship ties by introducing new ties by the Christian family. children born out of wed-lock are killed or abandoned. Stephens, William N., The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective, New York: University Press of America, 1982. - Marriage raised the status of the couples once somebody was married he was given a lot of respect. Kinship ties are strong bonds that exist among community members. 2. They face challenges from medical practitioners who argue that they should go for formal training. Reviews the biological and sociological constants of kinship; Previews the topicsto be covered in marriage, family and larger kinship units. The kin group is also a source of emotional and spiritual belonging. Through this, they believed they could receive blessings. v. There was a lot of fairness in the distribution of property. 2. - It also regulates marriage relations, before marriage one has to find the back ground of the other. 1. Yet, equal opportunities is, perhaps, the essential defining element of an inclusive Christianity: Christianity has weakened African Kinship ties by introducing new ties by the Christian family. Death is believed to be a next journey to the world of the spirits. People in the traditional African communities were afraid of acquiring property unlawfully for fear of curse. vi. 4. Schooling where children spend most of their time with teachers depriving them the time to be with elders. There are meteorologists who predict the weather conditions. Rain makers ii. For this reason, the paper serves only as an introduction to the application of Christian Changing attitudes towards initiation rites Since the introduction of Christianity and western culture peoples attitude towards initiation rites have changed. 29 Audrey I. Richards, Bemba Marriage and Present Economic Conditions, The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1969) p.30. This article looks at the societies and cultures of sub-Saharan Africa in pre-modern history. .. People nowadays try to show their loyalty to state and not the society. Edited by G.A. 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. 8. Divorce and separation are discouraged. People who are directly related to each other are known as primary kin. She organizes the disposal of the placenta (after birth). Professor of Sociology, Bridgewater College. 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. 3. 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. Today marriage is for companionship and it is considered to be complete even if there are no children. - In some communities it would last for several days. 2. - 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. They could also give aid to increase productivity e.g. There is no proper dosage of the herbs. - With the introduction of money economy it is possible to sell land. - Kinship helps to care for the less fortunate members of the society e.g. Wedding ceremony - After the negotiation the wedding ceremonies are arranged. Pregnant women are not allowed to handle certain types of tools. He has no rights on his paternal clan. The traditional African family is a very broad concept which has challenging variations across the continent. Through supernatural powers iii. 7. However, the influence of mediums and diviners has been affected by Christianity, which is against consulting any power apart from God. It must be emphasized, however, that these were traditional patterns as far back as late 1800s up to as late as 1960s. - The hair of the mother and the child is shaved. Significance of dowry payment The custom of paying personal gifts to the brides people is practiced all over Africa sometimes referred to as Bride wealth or Bride price. 6. Dishonoring or insulting God. To show their loyalty to State and not the society go for training. 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factors affecting kinship ties in traditional african society