•In many societies, unilineal descent groups assume important corporate functions such as land ownership, political representation and mutual aid and support. •Unilineal kinship institutions occur at over twice the incidence of cognatic ones among the world's cultures. Until the last decades of the 20th century, for example, kinship was regarded as the core of British social anthropology, and no thorough ethnographic study could overlook the central importance of kinship in the functioning of so-called stateless, nonindustrial, or traditional societies. The cultural and physical diversity added with the dramatic social changes of the last three decades on the continent makes the family pattern situation so variegated as to … Rukariro Katsande explores the intricate and fascinating African culture of totems and kinship in relation to conservation…Read more here. Outline seven roles of kinship system in traditional African society Answers - The system united members of the family, clan and community by providing them with a sense of identity. Traditional relations of kinship have actually impacted the lives of African individuals and ethnic groups by determining what land they could farm, whom they could marry, and their status in their communities. Thus traditional leaders qualify for office by their ancestry alone … Kinship is … This trend sometimes means that nuclear families are growing farther from their kinship networks. Kinship refers to the culturally defined relationships between individuals who are commonly thought of as having family ties. (viii) They raise parents' dignity and status in society. During the pre-colonial era for one to assume the leadership position one had to be related by a tie of kinship or based on their common ancestry. (ix) They cement marriage relationship between a husband and wife. Meanwhile, among educated and privileged Africans, especially in the cities, the husband-wife couple is becoming more important as a social and legal unit. •The powerful West African Ashanti kingdom developed within a All societies use kinship as a basis for forming social groups and for classifying people. Practices Relating to Traditional African Specialists. 4. Kinship is the web of relationships woven by family and marital relationship. However, there is a great amount of variability in kinship rules and patterns around the world. What is the importance of children in Traditional African Society? Traditional leadership is inherited through kinship ties. The forms found in Africa are not unique to Africa, but they are important parts of African social organizations and culture. Traditional Africa has a host of specialists who are professionals in their various disciplines, such as (1) priests, (2) medicine men and women, (3) diviners, mediums, sorcerers, witches, wizards and midwives. They help their parents at old age. Everybody has kinship in one form or another. Kinship included the following:-Descent-Social groups based on descent-The family-Marriage-Beliefs and taboos. Cement a marriage: One without children is considered incomplete. Some women are raising children apart from the traditional family frameworks. In sub-Saharan Africa, the visits between families to negotiate the bride price are traditional customs that are considered by many Africans to be central to African marriage and society. The subject of “traditional family patterns in Africa” is so broad that it cannot be adequately addressed in one chapter. Variability in kinship rules and patterns around the world patterns around the world kinship the. 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