Shifting Marital Alliances among the Bokkos Fulani
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2737480 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Joseph Hickey (0000-0002-9373-1181, corresponding author), Joseph V Hickey |
| Year | 1978 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 25 |
| Publication date | 1978-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ethnology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0014-1828 • E-ISSN: 2160-3510 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/3773277 |
| OpenAlex | W2259129678 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 4 |
There has been considerable debate in the anthropological literature regarding the function of patrilateral parallel-cousin marriage. In his summary of the literature, Khuri (I970: 598-604) divides the functionalist approaches to FBD marriage into three major categories: (i) FBD marriage serves to preserve property in small descent groups; (2) FBD marriage strengthens and reinforces political ties within the minimal lineage; and (3) FBD marriage allows for agnatic segmentation and structural opposition, which result in a better adaptation to complex environments. More recent studies have demonstrated inadequacies in these explanations. For example, Khuri's investigation of two Beirut suburbs revealed the persistence of FBD marriage despite the diminishing importance of the larger family as a property, power, or status (Khuri I970: 606). Several authors including Barth (I973) and Aswad (I97I) have suggested that the entire matter of FBD marriage be reconsidered. According to Barth (I973:I3-14), must be recognized that FBD marriage is one of an arsenal of possible moves for securing social position. When ... opposed interests emerge between close collaterals some of them will seek to align by marriage ... At the same time, it is also necessary to establish new alliances, and to renew old ones. FBD marriage from this perspective is but one option in a series of alliance strategies that individuals may choose depending on the ecological circumstances. A similar approach to FBD marriage is taken by Spooner (I973). Spooner notes that among the Bedouin demographic processes often do not provide suitable marriage partners (FBD) and some members of the group must find mates in other categories. In the latter case, however, exogamous marriages are not randomly contracted but are established to maintain reliable relationships with other groups in ecologically strategic places (Spooner I973: 31). Spooner's analysis suggests that while the Bedouin may advocate marriage with the FBD, actual marriage patterns shift from endogamy to exogamy, depending on faced by individual families. My own field work among the Pastoral Fulani strongly supports the ecological perspective which interprets all forms of marriage (including FBD) as solutions to specific contextual ecological, economic, and political problems
Sociology · African history and culture analysis · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Gender Studies · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
| Highly cited | No |
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