Culture Summary
essay 2016 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > Central Africa
This is a culture summary of the Suku people. Information is presented on major aspects of Suku culture....

The Suku of southwestern Congo
essay 1965 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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 Congo
essay 1964 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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 Congo
essay 1971 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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 Congo
article 1961 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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...

Matrilineality, residence, and residential zones
article 1977 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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 Zaire
essay 1991 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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 thought
article 1981 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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 religion
essay 1980 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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 identities
essay 1990 Kopytoff, Igor

SukuAfrica > 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...