07 - Socio-cultural Institutions, Traditions, and Organizations p.1
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46 Terms
Q: How is marriage understood in many African societies?
As a relationship between families and groups, not just individuals, forming a social support system.
Q: What can marriage, kinship, and descent reveal about African society?
How people belong, inherit, organize responsibilities, and maintain social cohesion.
Q: What is the difference between nuclear and extended family structures?
Nuclear includes parents and children; extended includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and ancestors.
Q: What is a lineage?
A descent group tracing ancestry through one gender to a known ancestor.
Q: What is a clan?
A group of lineages tracing descent to a remote or mythical ancestor.
Q: What is kinship?
A cultural system defining relationships, roles, identity, and obligations among relatives.
Q: What are the three types of kinship?
Consanguineal (birth), affinal (marriage), and fictive (social ties).
Q: What are descent groups used for?
Organizing domestic life, inheritance, rituals, dispute settlement, and identity.
Q: What is unilineal descent?
Tracing descent exclusively through either the male or female line.
Q: What is patrilineal descent?
Children belong to the father’s lineage; inheritance passes father → son.
Q: Give examples of patrilineal societies.
Tallensi (Ghana), Yoruba (Nigeria), Luo (Kenya), Nuer (South Sudan).
Q: What is matrilineal descent?
Children belong to the mother’s lineage; inheritance passes through the female line.
Q: Give examples of matrilineal societies.
Asante (Ghana), Tuareg (North Africa), Bemba (Zambia).
Q: Why do matrilineal societies emphasize maternal inheritance?
Maternity is certain; paternity can be doubted.
Q: What is cognatic descent?
Tracing descent through both parents equally.
Q: What is ambilineal descent?
Choosing descent through either parent depending on social advantage.
Q: What is exogamy?
Marrying outside one’s group to build wider social networks.
Q: What is endogamy?
Marrying within one’s group to maintain cultural or lineage continuity.
Q: What qualities are valued in African marriages?
Good morals, hard work, respect for elders, fertility, and strong family reputation.
Q: What is bridewealth?
Transfer of property from groom to bride’s family as gratitude and compensation for her labor.
Q: What is dowry?
Gifts given to the bride from her parents.
Q: What is levirate marriage?
A widow marries her deceased husband’s brother to maintain lineage continuity.
Q: What is sororate marriage?
A man marries his wife’s sister if the wife dies or is infertile.
Q: What is surrogate marriage?
A woman gives birth on behalf of another woman but remains part of the family.
Q: What is ghost marriage?
A woman marries a deceased man; children born belong to the ghost father’s lineage.
Q: What is woman to woman marriage?
A woman pays bridewealth to marry another woman to produce heirs through a chosen male.
Q: What is monogamy?
Marriage between two individuals; considered ideal in many societies.
Q: What is polygyny?
One man married to multiple wives; historically common but declining.
Q: Why is polygyny declining?
Western influence, economic pressures, religious changes, and urbanization.
Q: What are arguments for polygyny?
Supports widows, increases labor for farming, addresses male mortality imbalances.
Q: What are arguments against polygyny?
Gender inequality, economic burden, family conflict, and potential health risks.
Q: What is matrilocal residence?
Husband moves to wife’s family home.
Q: What is patrilocal residence?
Wife moves to husband’s family home.
Q: What is natalocal residence?
Each spouse stays in their birth home and visits each other.
Q: What is neolocal residence?
Couple establishes a new independent home.
Q: What is avunculocal residence?
Couple lives with husband’s maternal uncle.
Q: What is ambilocal residence?
Couple chooses either spouse’s family to live with.
Q: What defines the Maasai culturally?
Red shukkas, beadwork, and the adamu jumping dance.
Q: What defines the Xhosa culturally?
IsiXhosa language with clicks and strong ceremonial traditions.
Q: What defines the Himba culturally?
Otjize-coated skin and hair, minimal water use, and earth built homesteads.
Q: What defines the San culturally?
Ancient hunter gatherer traditions, deep ecological knowledge, and resourcefulness.
Q: What defines the Mursi culturally?
Pastoralism, Donga stick fighting, and animist spiritual practices.
Q: What defines the Zulu culturally?
IsiZulu language, Reed Dance ceremony, and strong ancestral traditions.
Q: What does bridewealth guarantee in patrilineal societies?
The man’s rights over children born in the marriage.
Q: Why is fertility central in marriage?
Children ensure lineage continuity and inheritance stability.
Q: What is the extended family’s role?
Shared responsibilities, caregiving, inheritance, and social support.