Cattle people in East Africa
Cattle people in East Africa
Introduction
Tribal societies can generally be called equalitarian societies. The main goal of tribal societies is humanization; ‘the production and maintenance of human beings and human societies and cultures’ (Bodley 2005:19). Social power within these tribal societies is based on a domestic level, which results in less centralized power. When specifically examining the tribal herders in East Africa, it can be said that they were able to create cultures that maximize personal freedom. These cultures still manage to meet the needs of society and maintain a relatively equal civilization (Bodley 2005). Moreover, tribal people have been able to successfully live in East Africa for over 5000 years by adapting to a changing environment. Meanwhile, they were able to achieve this cultural stability with larger societies compared to Amazonians and Australian Aborigines. Therefore, it is interesting to examine how the East African cultures were able to create and maintain an equal society.
This essay will explore how social and economic equality is maintained in the tribal societies in East Africa (also referred to as cattle people) by examining the different factors which contribute to this equality. The main focus will be on the Nuer culture, while Maasai culture is also used in explaining the age-set system. I will begin by looking into the environmental factors that influence the East African cultures, followed by studying the distribution and importance of cattle and their political system. After this, the age-set system will be described and it consequences for society. Finally, I will provide a conclusive summary of the body of work.
Environmental factors
The environment in which the East African people live is part of a tropical savanna ecosystem, which is mainly a grassland zone. According to Evans-Pritchard (1940), Europeans perspective on Nuerland was that it did not possess any favorable qualities, this is in contrary to the
Introduction
Tribal societies can generally be called equalitarian societies. The main goal of tribal societies is humanization; ‘the production and maintenance of human beings and human societies and cultures’ (Bodley 2005:19). Social power within these tribal societies is based on a domestic level, which results in less centralized power. When specifically examining the tribal herders in East Africa, it can be said that they were able to create cultures that maximize personal freedom. These cultures still manage to meet the needs of society and maintain a relatively equal civilization (Bodley 2005). Moreover, tribal people have been able to successfully live in East Africa for over 5000 years by adapting to a changing environment. Meanwhile, they were able to achieve this cultural stability with larger societies compared to Amazonians and Australian Aborigines. Therefore, it is interesting to examine how the East African cultures were able to create and maintain an equal society.
This essay will explore how social and economic equality is maintained in the tribal societies in East Africa (also referred to as cattle people) by examining the different factors which contribute to this equality. The main focus will be on the Nuer culture, while Maasai culture is also used in explaining the age-set system. I will begin by looking into the environmental factors that influence the East African cultures, followed by studying the distribution and importance of cattle and their political system. After this, the age-set system will be described and it consequences for society. Finally, I will provide a conclusive summary of the body of work.
Environmental factors
The environment in which the East African people live is part of a tropical savanna ecosystem, which is mainly a grassland zone. According to Evans-Pritchard (1940), Europeans perspective on Nuerland was that it did not possess any favorable qualities, this is in contrary to the
References: Bodley, J.H. 2005. Cultural Anthroplogy, 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Evans-Pritchard, E.E. 1940. The Nuer: a description of the modes of livelihood and political institutions of a nilotic people, Oxford: Clarendon press Tignor, L.E. 1972. The Maasai Warriors: Pattern Maintenance and Violence in Colonial Kenya, Cambridge: Cambridge University press