Book

The Boni refugee Blacks of French Guiana

IFAN (63) • Published In 1961 • Pages: HRAF MS: xi, 583 [Original: xii, 356 ]

By: Hurault, Jean, Winchell, Jean.

Abstract
This is an important ethnography on the Boni. Hurault focuses on social organization, demography,a nd the magico-religious system. (Hurault says his data on material life, art, and other demographic aspects will be published separately.) Excellent, detailed information is presented on the socio-demographic composition of each of the Boni villages, and on the organization, composition, distribution, and functions of the basic matrilineal descent groups (the LO). A complete census of the villages is given, plus extended genealogical charts, enabling a precise placement of each individual by residence, kin relations, and matrilineage affiliations. Associated information is included on age, sex, births and deaths, marriages and divorces, and ethnic derivation (if non-Boni). A long section discusses the role of matrilineages in land ownership, an important factor in structuring the pattern of land utilization. Other sections cover settlement patterns, the physical structure of villages, family relations, and marriage and residence patterns. Starting with death and mortuary practices, an extensive treatment is given of the magico-religious beliefs and rituals. The social significance of the matrilineage ancestor cults is clearly delineated, as it is the pervasive influence of the cults of possession, and of various key ritual roles. The only significant weakness in the book seems to be at the analytical level. Thus the data on social organization are not as fully analyzed as they might be, and this leaves some gaps which the researcher must try to piece together for himself. An example of this is the very fuzzy picture which Hurault gives of village political organization. What seems to have happened is that the relevant data are analyzed solely from the stndpoint of the structure and functions of the major matrilineages, rather than from the standpoint of any one community as a whole. But in general this is a very good ethnography, particularly in view of the fact that the author's primary field is evidently geography, not social anthropology.
Subjects
Composition of population
Literary texts
Kinship terminology
Lineages
Community structure
Burial practices and funerals
Mourning
Religious practices
culture
Ndyuka
HRAF PubDate
1999
Region
South America
Sub Region
Amazon and Orinoco
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Geographer
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Robert O. Lagacé ; 1968
Field Date
1948-1958
Coverage Date
1948-1958
Coverage Place
Aluku tribe; French Guiana and Suriname
Notes
Jean Hurault
The author uses the term 'lineage' to cover types of kin groups which in the OUTLINE OF CULTURAL MATERIALS are differentiated into Lineages (613) and Clans ( 614). Generally, when the term lineage is used in the text without further specification of the group structure, it has been indexed only for Lineages (613), although the data may also be pertinent to Clans (614).
Translation of: Les Noirs Réfugiés Boni de la Guyane Française
The original French text is not included
Includes bibliographical references (p. 540-541)
Translated for the HRAF files by Jean Winchell
LCCN
62058073
LCSH
Djuka people