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Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 2:18am On Aug 21, 2015 |
Some African cultures are matrilineal, the woman is the head of the family unit and her income considered her sole property which her husband or male partner does not have access or rights to. Most of Africa is patrilineal, but in the matrilineal cultures, the woman is the decision maker in the home. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 2:22am On Aug 21, 2015 |
The kids also belong to the woman's family, not the man's. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by Kimoni: 8:36am On Aug 21, 2015 |
I agree...there is this large tribe in Northern Africa, the Tuaregs I think. And the Akans in Ghana. But not sure about the kid's surname too. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by AzontoGhost(m): 12:33pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
tpiander:In Akan tradition, children bear father's name. Its just the line of descent that goes the mother's way. Apart from this, fathers have total control of their children. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by AzontoGhost(m): 12:39pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
There are two types of
families among the Akans. These are the nuclear
family (na-ne-agya abusua) and the extended
family (abusuasanten). The nuclear family is
made up of the mother, father and children. This
family type is an adaptation from the western
culture. This type of family is more recognized
and take precedent over the extended family
among educated and city dwellers perhaps due to
economic constraints. The extended family is
what comes to mind of any Akan at the mention
of the word “family”. The extended family still
plays a dominant role among the Akans especially
in the rural areas as a result of the desire to keep
particular lineages. Most Akans, with the
exception of the Akuapims practice matrilineal
inheritance. All children belong to their mother’s
family (clan). An important feature of the
extended family is that children do not inherit
their father but uncles and aunts in the case of
women. The Akans believe that a human being is
formed from the blood of the mother and the
spirit of the father. The child inherits courage,
talents and wisdom from the father. The father
and other members of the nuclear family do not
belong to the same extended family. There are
eight clans (extended families) in the Akan
community. These are Asona, Agona, Aduana,
ɔyoko, Asenee, Biretuo, koɔna and Asakyiri.
Each clan is headed by a family head known as
abusua pinyin who is both the spiritual and
physical representative. Members of the same
family are believed to trace their lineage to one
ancestor. Members of the same clan do not
marry each other; it is a taboo. Though there has
been constitutional intervention (PNDC Law) to
give children and mothers the right to inherit their
father’s property, the matrilineal system still
prevails. There is always close ties between the
members of the extended family and the nuclear
family. The Akans do not have a vocabulary for
cousins but brothers and sisters. The Akans value
mother-brother and mother-children relationships. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 3:39pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
^ that's interesting. very unusual for an African setting. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by JiggamanGh: 7:12pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
tpiander: Where do you guys even get such info from. Do you understand and k ow the definition of matrilineal society is. It simply means that the lineage of the children are trace through the mother any other thing is the same as patrilineal society. For instance a child born to a Ghanaian mother and Nigerian father will be Ghanaian in the eyes of a matrineal society. Is all about lineage and has nothing to do with decision making or the child taking their mom's last name. 2 Likes |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by Captainswag225(m): 7:46pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
o.p can u pls provide examples of which tribes in africa that women are head of families. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 7:49pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
JiggamanGh: corrected. like I said, most of Africa is patrilineal, and many people wouldn't be familiar with this culture. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 7:54pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
Captainswag225: parts of north, central, south and west Africa. |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by Captainswag225(m): 7:56pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
tpiander:and its said that women take decisions in the family? Are u sure abt dis? |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 8:05pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
Captainswag225: you can post corrections of whatever you consider inaccurate information on the thread. like I pointed out, many people are not familiar with this type of social structure. 1 Like |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by Captainswag225(m): 8:10pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
tpiander:but u have to support ur claim with examples, thats all am asking for. Nutin else |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 8:12pm On Aug 21, 2015 |
Re: Matrilineal Societies In Africa by tpiander: 4:02am On Aug 23, 2015 |
Captainswag225: So, I think what you're saying is in (some) matrilineal societies, the woman is not the decision maker but the family structure is only considered matrilineal because the woman's children solely inherit from her side of the family, not the man's. Is that right? ie did I understand you correctly? |
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