Book

Co-wives and calabashes

University of Michigan PressAnn Arbor • Published In 1993 • Pages: xxxi, 224

By: Price, Sally.

Abstract
In this book, Price examines Saramakan gender relations and art forms. She describes the making, and designing of calabash utensils, clothing, and songs, mostly by women. She discusses how these art forms are interrelated, and their relationship to gender relations. Samarakan culture is marked by gift exchange between couples. Men who work on the coast, sometimes for years at a time, return with gifts for their wives, lovers, and other family members. Women reciprocate with carved calabash bowls and laddles, and embroidered capes. Women's work is more finely wrought than that of men's. According to Price this is because women have more time on their hands, and are more dependent on men: The Saramakans are polygamous and most men have wives whereas women at times are without husbands. Women's dependency on men, and the tensions within the polygamous household and patrilocal village are expressed in their songs and dance. Price discusses the changes in design elements over time, which she relates to changes in both imported materials and Saramakan social relations, particularly those with the outside world. She notes a standardization of art forms over time, with less tolerance for individual variation.
Subjects
Clothing manufacture
Woodworking
Utensils
Music
Visual arts
Gender roles and issues
Interlinear translations
culture
Saramaka
HRAF PubDate
1999
Region
South America
Sub Region
Amazon and Orinoco
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 1997
Field Date
1966-1978
Coverage Date
1870-1970
Coverage Place
Suriname
Notes
Sally Price. 2nd ed., with a preface by the author
Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-218) and index
LCCN
92043700
LCSH
Saramacca (Surinam people)