Book

Southeast Nuba social relations

Alano, Edition HerodotAachen • Published In 1989 • Pages: 390

By: Faris, James C..

Abstract
This book discusses the constitution of social relationships among three communities in the southeastern Nuba Hills, drawing on detailed accounts of the inner workings of clans and sub-clans, organized ceremonials, and the social functions of specialists such as artisans, drummers, dancers, priests, magicians and curers. The author argues that the communities, although seemingly classless and egalitarian in ideology, actually consist of a subtle, hierarchical web of clans, age grades, and specialist groups that provide opportunities for the appropriation of labor and resources from others. The Nuba in these communities are socialized to accept these divisions as natural and necessary for the orderly functioning and reproduction of social life across generations. For the author, however, this ideology masks the pervasiveness of power differentials (including sexism) between individuals and groups.
Subjects
Community structure
Kin relationships
Rule of descent
Clans
Lineages
Ethos
Inter-community relations
Classes
Status, role, and prestige
Gender status
Gender roles and issues
Age stratification
Sodalities
Regulation of marriage
Mode of marriage
Sex and marital offenses
Kinship regulation of sex
Congregations
Organized ceremonial
Prayers and sacrifices
Special courts
Initiation of judicial proceedings
Cult of the dead
culture
Nuba
HRAF PubDate
2019
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Eastern Africa
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Anthropologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi Abate Adem ; 2017
Field Date
1966-1969, 1977, 1980
Coverage Date
1966-1980
Coverage Place
southeastern South Kordofan, Sudan
Notes
James C. Faris
Includes bibliographical references (p. 383-390)
LCCN
90171540
LCSH
Nuba (African people)