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The Functions of Bride-Wealth in Ubena of the Rivers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2012

A. T.  and
G. M. Culwick
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Extract

The analysis of bride-wealth among the Wahehe by Dr. Gordon Brown is of particular interest to us, as we are studying the life of a tribe akin to them, namely the Wabena of the Ulanga Valley, Tanganyika Territory. A survey of some aspects of the custom amongst the latter people will not, perhaps, be out of place, especially as their social organization displays some interesting features indicative of compromise and adjustment between mother-right and father-right. Their past and present practice may contribute somewhat to the study of the subject of bride-wealth in general.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , April 1934 , pp. 140 - 159
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1934

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References

page 140 note 1 Africa, vol. v, no. 2.

page 142 note 1 Sons of the chief and his brothers always received this training.

page 144 note 1 To what extent children were actually taken right away by their father on divorce, or if their mother was inherited by a man living some way away, is far from clear.

page 149 note 1 Cf. the Swahili verb kubembeleza.

page 149 note 2 Cf. Swahili kutoa.

page 151 note 1 In the past, matrimonial cases were most often heard in camera by a gathering of family elders, and even if they came before one of the tribal courts were not, as now, heard in open court.

page 152 note 1 But see below for the ghost of the old lihetu and its changed significance.

page 153 note 1 Cf. Swahili kukomaa.