essay

The Suku of southwestern Congo

peoples of africaNew York • Published In 1965 • Pages: 441-477

By: Kopytoff, Igor.

Abstract
This article discusses three salient features of Suku culture and society: 1) a kinship organization that combines matrilineal descent with patrilocal residence, 2) a political organization that combines centralized kingship with broadly autonomous segmentary lineage groups, and 3) periodic initiation rites of males and females of different ages and from different kin groups. The author argues that this crossing of sex and age lines might have contributed to the integration of Suku local communities.
Subjects
Community structure
Kin relationships
Lineages
Territorial hierarchy
Form and rules of government
Chief executive
General character of religion
Organized ceremonial
culture
Suku
HRAF PubDate
2016
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Central Africa
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Anthropologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi Abate Adem ; 2014
Field Date
1958-1959
Coverage Date
1920-1965
Coverage Place
Kwango district, Bandundu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Notes
Igor Kopytoff
Includes bibliographical references (p. 475-477)
LCCN
65010276
LCSH
Suku (African people)