Young men are taught to develop self-love and love for the community it provides a sense of belonging. - The naming of the child takes place some days after birth. Although polygamy is the act of an individual being married to more than one spouse at the same time, the more commonly practiced in Africa is polygyny .the legal marriage of one man to two or more women concurrently is permitted.4 This author argues that because of its perversity, the presence and absence of polygyny was a significant determinant and indicator of the nature of virtually every African social group; whether tribe, clan, or extended family, whether matrilineality or patrilineality was practiced, bride price existed, and how children were raised. It could also help in paying of the dowry. The midwife advises on post-natal care of the mother and the baby. Overall, there are two forms of social groups that from the basis of Bemba marriage and traditional family. Would provide medical care e.g. Factors that have affected Kinship system 1. 4. Girls brought wealth in form of cattle to marriage. Professor of Sociology, Bridgewater College. 6. He was a Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Zambia from 1977 to 1990. the Agikuyu the ancestors are Mumbi and Gikuyu were created by Ngai. Each community has a distinct political and social organization. iv. Bridgewater College - They are concerned with maintenance of law and order in the community. 5. - Playing football - Wresting - Beer drinking - Wedding ceremonies - Riddles - Folktales - Tongue twisters Today several changes have affected leisure activities. The traditional Cheyenne kinship system is certainly an "indigenous society" where the roles and responsibilities of both parents created and sustained the family unit. Yet others could also die due to old age. (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1956, 1966, 1971). It must be emphasized, however, that these were traditional patterns as far back as late 1800s up to as late as 1960s. The descriptions implicitly portray (to the African and Westerner) African relationships as being negative, rigid and miserable. This article looks at the societies and cultures of sub-Saharan Africa in pre-modern history. But this is not an independent nuclear family unit. The gifts also act as security in case the marriage breaks then the gifts could be returned. Importance of seclusion period 1. No one is allowed to take the life of another. 4. There was fair distribution of wealth to even those who did not have. - Rainmakers are special people who have the ability to make rain. Urbanization: Those who move away from home to towns in search of Jobs are drawn from their ancestral homes. Importance of kinship ties to TAS vi. iii. Importance of Kinship - Kinship system defines how members relate to one another i.e. Download Now. People who are directly related to each other are known as primary kin. All rights reserved. The mothers bring children of both sexes with the umbilical cords carefully kept after birth. For example, when a man dies among the Baganda, his power over the property ends. Ch. Changing attitudes to birth and naming 1. The paternal grandfather recites many names of the clans dead ancestors. In some communities there is feasting and drinking of beer. They heal various diseases using herbs. a diviner would be called when something was stolen. Agikuyu umbilical cord is kept to symbolize the link between the mother and the child. To give the mother time to recover the lost energy. Problems that the elderly face today 1. The common descriptions of the African traditional family in the literature is Eurocentric and biased. 4. In many matrilineal societies, the maternal uncle in the go-between or undertakes all the arrangements and responsibilities for his nephews marriage.32 In case of divorce, the womens people were legal guardians of the children. bribery, robbery and stealing. In male-speaking terms, fathers sisters daughters (cross-cousins) are called cousins. - The children born after his death were still referred to as his. Due to de-forestation, some herbs are becoming extinct. Characteristics of African community 1. Your husband or wife, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law are all kinsmen related to you through marriage. - People tend to be individualized. As such disputes over land ownership were rare, this is because:- i. Many communities made clothes from animal skins, bark of trees, sisal and leaves. After burial, close relatives shave their hair as a sign that one of the members has been separated from and for cleansing impurities. It offers a general survey of the geographical environments they inhabited; their settlements, social structures and economies; and their religions and cultures. In some societies it is young people themselves who make their own choices and after wards informs their parents about it. She organizes the disposal of the placenta (after birth). children born out of wed-lock are killed or abandoned. 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. - People write wills to share or decide who should inherit their property. 5. However dowry payment has been hindered by several factors today e.g. Midwife could assist the mother in actual delivery to ensure the safety of the baby. - Life is also seen as communal. Christianity: Christianity has weakened African Kinship ties by introducing new ties by the Christian family. 6) There is problem of correct dosage of traditional medicine. There are physical (visible) causes of death and religious (invisible) causes. - Honesty. 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. - Wife inheritance ensured that the late mans family would not suffer. - Patriotism. PRIESTS/PROPHETS OR SEERS - These are other religious specialists who play a special role as intermediaries between God and human beings. They at times suffer from loneliness and psychological problems How the aged are taken care of today 1. They could also clean newly born baby. Factors contributing to harmony and mutual responsibility in African communities. They are not supposed to take part in heavy duties or carry heavy loads. 2 William J. ii. It starts at birth and continues through to death. 8. 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. 6. iv. It varies from culture to culture, from society to society. 35 3Audrey I. Richards, Bemba Marriage and Present Economic Conditions. The Rhodes-Livingstone Papers. (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1969) p.30. This can begin as early as childhood or before the children are born. Price, Thomas., A Short English-Nyanja Vocabulary. ii. However, both the organization of the family unit, marriage, decent systems and the structure of kinship relations vary from society to society and through time (Ingiabuna et al. It shows an act of bravery and hardship one I s to meet in life. Land was also a source of medicine in the form of herbs and minerals. giving the expectant mother certain herbs. A woman inherits her maternal grandmother or sisters. There are strict rules and taboos governing sex. 4. DeVos, New York: D. Van Nostrand Co., 1976. - They can foretell the future by receiving visions, dreams or words from God. 3. 3. Lobola is widely used among the Bantu peoples of Central and Southern Africa.39, Avoidance, segregated relationships, lack of love and tenderness in traditional African marriages and the family has been a common theme among European scholars. Young initiates are trained to be responsible husbands and wives in future. - Marriage raised the status of the couples once somebody was married he was given a lot of respect. 7. If one fails to show respect to such seniors. Urbanization: Where people of different cultures interact with one another. ii. Polygyny though set the tone and often determined the strength of the society and pattern of social organization of the traditional African family. 7) Many of the traditional medicine men are not willing to divulge information to others (a lot of secrecy surrounding traditional medicine) 8) Those who are educated also do not believe in the powers of diviners and mediums. Although children are our main focus, we have a holistic approach to the problem . 8. - It is through marriage that children are born to 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 - Respect. If he did, it would be like selling her. vi. Many people today acquire Christian names. vii. iv. They are neglected by their children especially those working in the towns. Changing attitude towards death rites Some of the death and funeral rites are still being practiced however some are slowly dying out. - Marriage extended relationship and therefore enlarged kinship ties. Power and authority in matrilineal societies ultimately lies in the woman and her brother. They give information concerning cause, nature and treatment of diseases. 7 Stuart Queen, Robert W. Habenstein, and John B. Adams, The Polygynous Baganda Family, in The Family in Various Cultures, (New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1961) Ch. Most of these changes in most cases are in conflict with the African customs. Department of Sociology Box 169 He is currently Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bridgewater College in Virginia. Yet in some communities when a woman is pregnant she is not allowed to talk to her husband directly. People in the traditional African communities were afraid of acquiring property unlawfully for fear of curse. Marriage: Has been individualized and is no longer a communal affair. - Marriage enables one to assume leadership rules an unmarried person would not be chosen a leader. Some communities have abandoned initiation rites like among the luo; removal of six lower teeth is a practice of the past. They affect all aspects of Africa, including care, marriages, and social status, since kinship controls people's relationships, moral values, and attitudes. Mitchell, J. Choosing of a marriage partner This differs from one community to another. 4) Some people who falsely claim to be diviners today simply exploit the ignorance of the people. Mair, Lucy P., African Marriage and Social Change, in Survey of African Marriage and Family Life. - Misuse of sex. Almost 30% of all single-parent families headed by women are officially poor. However, the role of these traditional religious leaders has been greatly affected by influence of Christianity, western culture and formal education. Western Culture: Has provided the spirit of individualization. This is because these ties: 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. The children learn the customs, beliefs, and culture pertaining to the social roles of being a woman, mother, and wife for girls; and a man, father, and husband for boys. Tembo, Mwizenge S., A Sociological Analysis of the African Personality Among Zambian Students. c. The corpse is washed using water. 3. - They could also observe the weather conduction and interpret the movement of clouds and wind. Consanguineal kinship: this kinship is based on blood the relationship meaning the relationship between parents and children also among immediate siblings. To give the mother instructions on how to take care of the child. - Men are not allowed to go next to the delivery places. First, two animal totems from one of which the clan derives its name. 2. Through this, they believed they could receive blessings. Elders act as role models to the youth i.e. In fact a woman was part of the property of the man. - Marriage ensures that children are not born outside wedlock. The verb kulobola is very specific meaning the valuables that are given partially or in full to the girls people to legitimate or seal the marriage. Today choosing of a marriage partner is individualized and the parents do nowadays not choose the marriage partner. 3. 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. - The girls would take back the sheet with a lot of ululation and rejoicing and one girl would remain behind to study the character of the man. Those who are lazy are ridiculed. Young people are trained to have respect for others and self-respect. Land was owned by the community. 2. The Baganda use classificatory system of kinship terminology which seems common to virtually all the Bantu peoples of Central and Southern Africa. The midwife also monitors the development of the foetus. it governs behavior towards each other - Kinship binds together the entire life of a community, the departed and those yet to be born. Acquiring property unlawfully for fear of curse and drinking of beer to virtually all the peoples... 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