18. a) State five changes that have taken place in property ownership today. This ensured that nobody remained landless. in the garden or when one is building a new house. b) Explain the purpose of bride wealth in the traditional African community. In some communities if a woman is barren, she would bring another woman to bring children on her behalf. First, in succession and inheritance the man inherits his dead grandfather, maternal uncle, or brother. People could also die due to shortage of food. in some communities it is thrown to uncultivated land to show fertility. 28-39. To protect the child from evil eyes. Through apprenticeship iv. To give the mother time to recover the lost energy. Girls brought wealth in form of cattle to marriage. Power and authority in matrilineal societies ultimately lies in the woman and her brother. among the Kisii, a person born crossing the river could be called Kwamboka. - 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. The new hair that grows shows the beginning of new life. This explains why the family household included servants, female slaves, and their children. - 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. - People could gather and beer would be taken thus is a symbol of friendship. Twins are also given special names e.g. Children are attached to and cared for by many adults, including grandparents, aunties, uncles and older siblings [29064] [28917]. © 2023 Tutorke Limited. among the Akamba pregnant women are not supposed to eat fats, beans or animals killed using poison. ix. Virginity is not highly valued and many people break their virginity at stage of adolescence. v. Polygamy is encouraged for sexual satisfaction for men. iv. That is, kinship is a network of relationships in which each tie is influenced by, and in turn influences, the others. Young men are taught to be honest in all their undertakings. g. The body is carefully placed in the grave facing an appropriate direction according to the customs of the people. - After the cutting of the skin, the initiates are put in special huts for a period of time. iv. This is sexual differentiation in socialization in which girls will become acceptable mothers and wives and boys husbands and fathers. - Religious organizations assist widows to start income generating projects. Asante, Molefi Kete., Afrocentricity; The Theory of Social Change, Buffalo: Amulefi Publishing Company, 1980. The clan chooses the heir. 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. Challenges facing herbalists 1. Among the Baganda, the clan has remained the most important kinship entity. Before this ceremony, the child is not considered a complete member of the clan or society. The naming ceremony is very important early in the childs life. food, beer drinking. The belief in Christianity has also affected traditional beliefs in death to believe that death is a gateway to heaven and there is resurrection of the body. -Close and supportive extended-family relationships -Strong kinship ties with non blood relatives from church or organizational and social groups -Family unity, loyalty, and cooperation are important -Usually matriarchal African American Folk and Traditional Healthcare: This article looks at the societies and cultures of sub-Saharan Africa in pre-modern history. 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. Yet in some communities when a woman is pregnant she is not allowed to talk to her husband directly. c) Explain the factors weakening kinship ties among Africa communities. v. They drive a way witches and evil spirits. Schooling where children spend most of their time with teachers depriving them the time to be with elders. They are neglected by their children especially those working in the towns. Death is believed to be a next journey to the world of the spirits. I. These changes have been brought about by:- i. Edited by Arthur Phillips, London: Oxford University Press, 1953. Many wives 3. among the Luos a person who comes out with the placenta would be called Obiero or Awino. 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. The Baganda use classificatory system of kinship terminology which seems common to virtually all the Bantu peoples of Central and Southern Africa. Mothers and children would die at childbirth to cases where there is no skilled mid-wife. Kinship is at the heart of First Nations society. 2. - Marriage also unites the living and the dead. They would only speak through intermediaries. vii. Many communities made clothes from animal skins, bark of trees, sisal and leaves. This culture was pre-literate, pre-scientific and pre-industrial. - The bathing symbolizes the beginning of a new state in life. They are regarded as honest. People of the same age set consider themselves as brothers and sisters. c. The corpse is washed using water. Both the mother and the child are given charms to protect them. 2. - The naming of the child takes place some days after birth. They are important because they have a lot of experience. Scholars of the African traditional family agree that the one widely known aspect that distinguishes the African traditional family, say from the European one, is the perversity of polygamy3. 2003). (Buffalo: Amulefi Publishing Company, 1980). 1. (New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1961) p.68, 23 Lucy P. Mair, African Marriage and Social Change, in Survey of African Marriage and Family Life. Prayers are offered also during time of calamities. They are not supposed to take part in heavy duties or carry heavy loads. They are also given special instructions that prepare them for marriage life. Diviners also have religious functions and perform duties of priests such as offering of sacrifice. This is brought by the following factors:- 1. 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. The African notion of "family," by contrast, typically refers to the extended family system. Through this, they believed they could receive blessings. - Many people have moved and have settled in foreign lands, which are not their ancestral lands. ii. 2. 5. They act as judges in certain circumstances. Some of the major issues raised will include polygamy, tribe, clan, the extended family, bride price and the raising of children. Wealth was seen in terms of: 1. 3. This is done by breaking the hearts of relatives by refusing to be good-hearted when they need you. Lecture: Nexus kinship and blood has a taste if age-old ideologies. They can foretell the future e.g. - Among the Luo the bride could be accompanied by her other sisters and on the first night, the people would witness the breaking of virginity. ix. But it makes it difficult to keep track of our kin. iii. The man who is the heir to the widow has the additional family responsibility of adopting the widows family. It could also help in paying of the dowry. - Through marriage, the living dead and those yet to be born are brought together. Mbiri Ya Achewa, 195? 9 J.A. vii. 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. At times girls could be given to repay debts. 3. N.S.S.F. Spirit of sharing: In African Traditional Community there is the spirit of sharing of resources among the members of a community e.g. Lusaka: National Educational Company of Zambia, and Kenneth Kaunda Foundation, 1970. The size of the clan could differ from one to the other. 6. 7. However the mode of dressing has seriously changed due to western influence. After initiation one is now free to marry and has a right to inherit his fathers property. 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. In some communities the choice is made by the parents. They lead people to communal prayer in time of crisis. They act as counselors and guide the people on all issues of life. Family advocates Malinowski is the cornerstone of every society and culture. 2. Although children are our main focus, we have a holistic approach to the problem . There is a lot of secrecy surrounding the knowledge of herbs. The attitude of the parents towards the sex of the child is also changing. 3. 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. Second, social support is usually sought from the matrilineal line or descent group. There are serious cases of misuse of leisure in the form of; - Watching and reading pornographic literature. Among the Chewa of Eastern Zambia, the custom of man living with his wifes parents temporarily or permanently was known as Ukamwini.23. 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. Marriage has been commercialized - many people demand higher payment for their daughter. iv. To give the mother time to heal. 3. They give information concerning cause, nature and treatment of diseases. - They counsel and guide the youth on matters of sex and marriage Why guiding and counseling was done by elders 1. 1. 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. Land is owned by individuals. Those who abuse sex are heavily punished. The book describes and explains Chewa traditions and customs including Ukamwini. [.] - In some communities it would be thrown in rivers, forest in Banana plantations. Would provide medical care e.g. It is said to be the basic and universal in relationships. 5. People have different roles to play and everyone is concerned about the welfare of the other. Having so many people in this household should not be confused with other types of large families like, ..the joint family, with its several married brothers and their families living together or the extended family, consisting of a group of married off spring living in one household under a patriarch or matriarch.11 The Baganda are also patrilocal. 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. Download Now. Naming gives identity to a person before a child is given a name she or he is not considered as having full identity. - In some communities it would last for several days. There were clear guidelines, rules and regulations on the use and ownership of land. Goldthorpe, J.E., The Sociology of the Third World: Disparity and Development. - Can interfere with an individuals reproductive system. Consanguineal kinship: this kinship is based on blood the relationship meaning the relationship between parents and children also among immediate siblings. 2. - The children born after his death were still referred to as his. iv. - Kinship helps to care for the less fortunate members of the society e.g. 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. Therefore, the new families tend to generally live near or with the husbands parents. What was the structure of the polygynous family? Importance of kinship ties to TAS 5. These rules would differ from one community to another. In western European societies Jack Goode finds that world revolution has contributed for the transformation of . 4. - A lot of bleeding can lead to the death of an individual. These carried with them all the heavy social obligations demanded of a mother or father, daughter or son. 8. 1. It must be emphasized, however, that these were traditional patterns as far back as late 1800s up to as late as 1960s. - Respect. 1975. At times force could be applied to get a reluctant young girl marry the partner. Primary kinship refers to direct relations. 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. Christianity and Islam were able to absorb many African religions because of each religion believed in a single supreme being that was the creator and ruler of the universe. 6. - Hardworking. Kinship connections are in turn based on two categories of bonds: those created by marriage and those that result from descent , which is socially recognized links between ancestors and descendants. The education provided is a lifelong process. Polygamy was preferred in African Traditional societies but today many people prefer monogamy marriage mainly due to economic hardship. Famous Sociologist H.M. Johnson identified six important bases of kinship which are described below: (1) Sex: Kinship relation is differentiated in each society on the basis of sex. The clan is linked by four factors. First, two animal totems from one of which the clan derives its name. The name gives the child identity. 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. Marriage involves much more than just the bride.37, This author would further argue that among the African people that are conductors, participants, and are actors in these marriages, the concept buy, purchase a wife or bride does not exist. If one fails to show respect to such seniors. Almost 30% of all single-parent families headed by women are officially poor. The kin group is also a source of emotional and spiritual belonging. 6) There is problem of correct dosage of traditional medicine. This shows that children seals marriage. Changing Family Patterns: Sub-Saharan Africa, in World Revolution and Family Patterns. 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. 7. Urbanization has undermined the role of of the elders as it becomes difficult for elders to operate as the people come from different backgrounds. The youth are taught to be courageous in order to be able to face challenges in life e.g. Less traditional family structures in sitcoms gained popularity in the 1980s with shows such as Diff'rent Strokes (a widowed man with two adopted African American sons) and One Day at a Time (a divorced woman with two teenage daughters). These Anglo-Saxon or Eurocentric descriptions do not help in the fair and accurate perception of the traditional African family. Angering the living dead and the spirits e.g. 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. Responsibility of elders: - They help in the settlement of disputes. 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