Book
The slaughtered camel: coping with fictitious descent among the Hubeer of southern Somalia
University of Uppsala, Department of Anthropology • [Uppsala, Sweden] • Published In 1988 • Pages:
By: Helander, Bernhard.
Abstract
This is a study of the Hubeer clan of the Ooflaawe region of southern Somalia. This group traces its genealogical origins back in history to the Samaale cluster of clans, but they are considered as belonging to the Rahanweyn branch of the Somali nation. Helander's focus in this work is on the consequences of the fiction of descent. 'Fictitious descent constitutes both a cognitive problem for individuals and an ideological problem for the society at large' (p. 2). This document explores the ways in which the Hubeer cope with these problems. Topics given particular attention in this work are social organization, class structure, funerary rites, the concept of BURJI (beliefs and knowledge of individual character and capacity), medicine, attitudes toward strangers and their adoption into southern Somali descent groups, gender metaphors, and sex status, (particularly concepts of masculinity and femininity).
- HRAF PubDate
- 1997
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Eastern Africa
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; 1995
- Field Date
- 1983-1985
- Coverage Date
- 1983-1985
- Coverage Place
- Hubeer clan: Ooflaawe region, southern Somalia, Somali Democratic Republic
- Notes
- by Bernhard Helander
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 200-211)
- Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Uppsala University, 1988
- LCSH
- Somalis