Documents
eHRAF is comprised of thousands of ethnographic sources including monographs, journal articles, dissertations and manuscripts. Use this page to find relevant documents by searching or filtering. Each document in eHRAF also contains a Publication Information page with added metadata including brief abstracts written by HRAF analysts who have subject-indexed the file.
Matrilineality, residence, and residential zonesarticle 1977 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This article describes Suku social organization, which combines matrilineal lineages with a patrilocal residence pattern. Previous anthropologists have viewed these two patterns as inherently contradictory and unstable. Empirical observation of Suku ...'Medicines' and the sexual transmission of disease among the Suku of Zaireessay 1991 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This article discusses the cultural meanings and medicinal functions of traditional Suku religious objects called "lineage medicines." These are associated with lineages because, unlike other types of Suku medicine, they are held not by individuals b...Knowledge and belief in Suku thoughtarticle 1981 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This article discusses traditional Suku beliefs relating to dead ancestors. It shows that the Suku, like many other African peoples, recognize the importance of ancestors to the wellbeing of the living. Yet, Suku traditional religion says very little...Revitalization and the genesis of cults in pragmatic religionessay 1980 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This article describes a traditional Suku religious rite called Kita which was typically held following the rise of a new chief. The focus is on the meanings and structure of the ritual, meant to renovate the collective wellbeing of lineage members a...Women's roles and existential identitiesessay 1990 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This article discusses traditional Suku cultural meanings and roles associated with womanhood and gender-based division of labor. It is argued that, compared to the United States of America and culturally related Western countries, Suku society provi...Culture Summaryessay 2016 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This is a culture summary of the Suku people. Information is presented on major aspects of Suku culture....The Suku of southwestern Congoessay 1965 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
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 s...Family and lineage among the Suku of the Congoessay 1964 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This document argues that the residential cycles of Suku families are shaped by the practical necessity of reconciling the two contradictory principles of Suku social organization: corporate autonomous matrilineages and clans, and residence rules tha...The Suku of the Congoessay 1971 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This document examines Suku kinship rules and observed behaviors of individuals. While Suku kinship principles dictate rigidly defined expectations, individuals constantly redefine these expectations by shifting their relationships and roles. Such sh...Extension of conflict as a method of conflict resolution among the Suku of the Congoarticle 1961 • Kopytoff, Igor
Suku • Africa > Central Africa
This paper describes particular methods of resolving conflict among the Suku. Each Suku lineage is responsible for the execution of justice. In most cases, this involves negotiating with other lineages on behalf of individual members to pay or receiv...