Book
The role of ambilineal descent groups in Gojjam Amhara social organization
University Microfilms, Inc. • Ann Arbor, Michigan • Published In 1963 • Pages:
By: Hoben, Allan..
Abstract
The ambilineal descent group in rural Amhara society serves an important role in allocating land rights within a feudal-like tenure system. Land grants originally given to military and religious personal have since been passed down to descendants. Each time the land is divided among descendants--not necessarily with each passing generation--a new land holding descent group is formed creating a nested hierarchy of ownership and use rights. Although one has rights to land held by the descent groups of one's father, mother, and wife, not all these possibilities are activated. How much land one lays claim to depends on one's household needs and the power of the household head which is usually a function of age. The usual pattern is to establish residence and activate land claims in an area outside of one's immediate descent group's territory in order to avoid conflict among close kin. The ambilineal descent group has little purpose beyond its function as a landholding unit.
- HRAF PubDate
- 1998
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Eastern Africa
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 1996
- Field Date
- 1961-62
- Coverage Date
- 1850s-1960s
- Coverage Place
- Dega Damot District, Gojjam Province, Ethiopia
- Notes
- by Allan Hoben
- UM 64-2067
- Includes bibliographical references
- Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of California, Berkeley, 1963
- LCSH
- Amhara (African people)