article
Tembe-Thonga kinship: the marriage of anthropology and history
Cahiers d'études Africaines • 26 (4) • Published In 1986 • Pages: 611-632
By: Webster, David.
Abstract
This article is concerned with the nature of Thonga kinship system since the advent of colonial powers in the region. It argues that prior to ca. 1750, the Thonga lived in small, scattered homesteads, practicing a mixed economy, based on the domestic unit, and with no polity of any size or significance. Over the years, however, the Thonga developed 'higher forms of social structuring' as they became a relatively wealthy and powerful society because of their advantageous position on trade routes. This was followed by the decline of the Thonga state as they were incorporated into the larger Swazi and Zulu States. With the advent of European capitalism in the region, many Thonga men migrated to towns in search of work for wages. This led to the increasing proletarianization of the Thonga which in turn led to the accelerated destruction of large functioning kinship groups into fragmented clans and small autonomous family homesteads.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2010
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Southern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem; 2010
- Field Date
- 1975-1978
- Coverage Date
- 1589-1986
- Coverage Place
- Kosi Bay, Northern KwaZulu, South Africa
- Notes
- David Webster
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 631-632)
- LCCN
- sn 86012778
- LCSH
- Tsonga (African peoples)