Ethnography of the Bantu Language: Kutu - Term Paper Example

Ethnography of the Bantu Language: Kutu Kutu inhabits Tanzania after the great traditional relocations where their intention was to search for large and reliable agricultural areas. Primarily, they inhabit Morogoro region situated centrally in the Tanzania where its group is a matrilineal. 1.1 Name(s) of society, language, and language family: The reference name for this group is Kutu or Khutu where its language is also Kutu. 1.2. ISO code (3-letter code from ethnologue.com): kdc 1.3. Location (latitude/longitude) -6.82 (6°4912"S) and +37.66 (37°3936"E) 1.4 Brief history: The group is among the few Tanzanian ethnics that are matrilineal and has a population of 87,000 people contrary to the majority patrilineal tribes (Ndembwike 146). They normally hold firmly to their traditions where aspects similar to marriage receive high esteem. Their culture dictates clearly a person’s roles, for illustration, farming is the woman’s role. Hence, implying that, the wife together with their daughters and other co-wives are liable to farm the entire family’s land to ensure adequate produce all through the year (Caplan 290). Conversely, men normally concentrate with livestock raring, which is the core aspect valued during the bridal price in their community and act as the custodians of their families where they have to instill the correct discipline. Initially, they were almost its majorities comprised Muslims, but presently are shifting to Christianity. 1.5 Influence of missionaries/schools/governments/powerful neighbors: Kutu contrary to other people contend that first missionaries segregated them since they misunderstood to be coastal Muslim (TWFTW). The missionary past them as they headed into the interior, hence presently not a single person knows Bible verse, which one can share with either friends or family members. Kutu do not have evangelical churches, which can boost their faith and quench strong ardent for spiritual upbringing (Caplan). The absence of Bible translated into their own language is a clear indication that they encountered neglect, which is contrary to other tribes who already have, can read and spread gospel in their mother tongues. Kutu currently they are speaking Kiswahili due to the emergence of numerous evangelical bodies in their region (Caplan 290). 1.6 Ecology (natural environment): Kutu land receives high rainfall, hence conducive for farming. 1.7 Population size, mean village size, home range size, density 87,000 people (Joshua Project). It is a matrilineal group where the size depends on the family due to polygamy practices, which is acceptable especially to the unchristian (Islamists). 2. Economy 2.1 Main carbohydrate staple(s): Ethnologue contends that their staples entail corn plus sorghum 2.2 Main protein-lipid sources: Fish (Tilapia), goats, poultry and sheep (Ethnologue). 2.3 Weapons: Bow and arrow, blowguns?: Traditional: Nets for fishing, old and crude Bunduki (rifles), lances and animal snares. 2.4 Food storage: Kutu’s closeness to Swahilis prompted them to adopt their modern means, since they were more civilized than they were. Besides, the entire region is more modern due to Swahili culture. 2.5 Sexual division of production: The men hunt, do fishing and in some incidences aid their wives in tilling the field (UVTG). Women their roles encompass farming besides cooking (UVTG). 2.6 Land tenure: Normally the male owns the land. 2.7 Ceramics: Modern works comprising of sun-caked earthenware where material utilized encompass grit, sand and ground rocks. 2.8. Specified (prescribed or proscribed) sharing patterns: They do maintain societal fabric, which enhances the aspect of individual’s feeling of belonging (UVTG). 2.9. Food taboos: They do not use alcohol or pork due to the influence from the Islam religion. 2.10. Canoes/watercraft? Since it is a fishing society, they do maintain big fleets of watercrafts having modern motors meant for easy and fast maneuver in while fishing. 3. Anthropometry 3.1 Mean adult height (m and f): Owing to malnutrition, the children experience stunted growth that affects their full development even in adulthood due to wide-experienced poverty in their region. 3.2 Mean adult weight (m and f): Underweight, owing to undernourishment, this is evident during the childhood. 4. Life History, mating, marriage 4.1 Age at menarche (f): This primarily differs and is mostly between 10 – 12 years. 4.2 Age at first birth (m and f): 14-22 years 4.3 Completed family size (m and f): Per marriage children number, entails 3-4. 4.4 Inter-birth-interval (f): The average is two to two years and half. 4.5 Age first marriage (m and f): Owing to polygamy and poverty, that characterizes the society, the marriage age ranges from 12 to 20 years. 4.6 Proportion of marriages ending in divorce: The society deems the completion of paying the dowry renders that marriage as permanent, hence no possibility of any divorce. 4.7 Percent marriages polygynous, percent males married polygynously: Monogamous 4.8 Bride purchase (price), bride service, dowry?: Dowry price encompasses livestock, which the community usually gauges one wealth. 4.9 Inheritance patterns: First born child usually bears the privilege of possessing half of the family’s wealth whereas the rest ought to share the rest equally. 4.10 Parent-offspring interactions and conflict: The elders are the society’s arbitration unit, where they deal with all the wrangles that may arise in the family. 4.11 Homosexual activities, social attitudes towards homosexuals: It is unacceptable and regarded as evil. 4.12 Pattern of exogamy (endogamy): It is a matrilineal community, thus no exogamy. 4.13 What is the belief of the role of males in conception; is paternity partible? Are these “other fathers” recognized? No partible paternity 4.14 What is the belief of the mother’s role in procreation exactly? (e.g., “receptacle in which fetus grows”) Caregiver of the Unborn 4.15 Is conception believed to be an incremental process (i.e., semen builds up over time)? No. 4.16 Occurrence of sexual coercion, rape Almost nonexistence or is low due to religion. 4.17 Preferential category for spouse (e.g., cross cousin) Girl’s father has the right to choose the spouse though; the daughter might decline if she is not pleased with the proposed suitor. 4.18 Do females enjoy sexual freedoms? It is unacceptable. 4.19 Evidence of giving gifts to extramarital partners or extramarital offspring Extramarital partners are nonexistent. 4.20 If mother dies, whose raises children? The father and assistance from other co-wives, hence the entire family (UVTG). 4.21 Adult sex ratio: number of adult males divided by number of (reproductive) females ________ 4.22 Evidence for couvades Nonexistent 4.23 Different distinctions for potential fathers (e.g., lesser/younger vs. major/older) No distinctions, but there are elders who there age is more advance compared to the young males. 4.24 Kin avoidance and respect? Work is inevitable to the young children. 4.24 Joking relationships? None 4.25 Patterns of descent (e.g., bilateral, matrilineal) for certain rights, names or associations It is a Matrilineal society (Ndembwike 146). 4.26 Incest avoidance rules Illegitimate and is punishable by death. 4.27 Is there a formal marriage ceremony? The groom meets the male representatives of the bride to say the vows. 4.28 In what way(s) does one get a name, change their name, and obtain another name? Wives must adopt their husband’s name, which among the African tradition is a sign of respect to a married wife (Caplan 290). 4.29 Is marriage usually (or preferred to be) within community or outside community? (m/f difference?) In urban is not a big deal, but in the rural matrimony are outside the society. 4.30 Are marriages arranged? Who arranges (e.g., parents, close kin)? Fathers normally assume the arrangement roles where the bride can decline or accept the choice made until to one’s satisfaction. 4.31 Evidence for conflict of interest over who marries who: The family if not satisfied can decline the father’s selection (The Joshua Project). Warfare/homicide 4.14 Percent adult (male) deaths due to warfare: Almost none since the state bears a single military. 4.15 Outgroup vs ingroup cause of violent death: The basis rests on the state’s affairs. 4.16 Reported causes of in-group and out-group killing: Regime’s affairs due to wrangles that may abound amid the state and external nations. 4.17 Number, diversity and relationship with neighboring societies (external relations): They usually maintain health interactions with other state’s tribes (Caplan 290). 4.18 Cannibalism? Nothing 5. Socio-Political organization and interaction 5.1 Mean local residential (village) group size: Big city 5.2 Mobility pattern: (seasonality): Lives in urban. 5.3 Political system: (chiefs, clans etc, wealth or status classes): Tanzanian regime’s structure. 5.4 Post marital residence: The husbands place, which as acts as the family’s inheritance. 5.5 Territoriality? (defined boundaries, active defense): Numerous Kutus thrive in big city. 5.6 Social interaction divisions ? (age and sex): They have embraced western mores 5.7 Special friendships/joking relationships: Western mores 5.8 Village and house organization: Mainly family level 5.9 Specialized village structures (mens’ houses): None 5.10 Sleep in hammocks or on ground or elsewhere? Apartments, with beds 5.11 Social organization, clans, moieties, lineages, etc: There is absence of social organization 5.12 Trade: Open markets; entailing price negotiations 5.13 Indications of social hierarchies? State’s regime and has a parliament 6. Ritual/Ceremony/Religion (RCR) 6.0 Time allocation to RCR: Islamic feasts, both the secular and global holidays. They include Labor Day (1St May) and Nane Nane day (August meant for father’s). 6.1 Specialization (shamans and medicine): The traditional are poor means and they have adopted the Western medication. 6.2 Stimulants: None 6.3 Passage rituals (birth, death, puberty, seasonal): None, except birthday celebration that entails Western mores, due to the Kutus has embraced it fully (UVTG). 6.4 Other rituals: Funerals (UVTG) 6.5 Myths (Creation): As professed by Islam where the Mohammed is the God’s sole seer 6.6 Cultural material (art, music, games): Cultural music coupled with chanting (UVTG). 6.7 Sex differences in RCR: Kutus’ traditions do not allow their women to participate in weddings. 6.8 Missionary effect: Due to negligence, numerous Kutus adopted Islam prior the current time where some organizations have brought the Gospel to the land. Hence, society presently bears some Christians who their population compared to the Islam is insignificant (TWFTW). 6.9 RCR revival: None. 6.10 Death and afterlife beliefs: Yes, mainly according to Islam and lately Christianity, this is evident in some regions (The Joshua Project). 6.11 Taboo of naming dead people? Partially practiced due to debate that refutes some traditions and modernity where disagreements abound regarding what to accept ore reject (Caplan 290). 6.12 Is there teknonymy? Yes. 6.13 Briefly describe religion (animism, ancestor worship, deism, magic, totems etc.) Islamic, except insignificant the recent traces of Christianity that has started creeping in (TWFTW). 7. Adornment 7.1 Body paint: Mainly, Hands and feet drawings that is common to Islamic women. 7.2 Piercings: Yes. 7.3 Haircut: No hair cut among the female, but young male is voluntarily. 7.4 Scarification: None 7.5 Adornment (beads, feathers, lip plates, etc.): Mainly beads but not more preferred than bodily drawings by amid the women. 7.6 Ceremonial/Ritual adornment: None 7.7 Sex differences in adornment: Primarily men dyed their hair (Brown) and beard according to their creed (Islam) divergent to females who made drawings on their body (The Joshua Project). 7.8 Missionary effect: Used bears numerous physical modifications. 7.9 Cultural revival in adornment: 8. Kinship systems 8.1 Sibling classification system: Primarily, acknowledged as sibling where the first child enjoys the privilege of bearing half of the family’s inheritance whereas the rest have to share the remaining property equally. 8.2 Sororate, levirate: Illegal 8.3 Other notable kinship typology, especially cross-cousin (MBD/FZD) typology (Crow/Hawaiian/Omaha etc.): None Work Cited Caplan, Ann, Patricia. Choice and Constraint in a Swahili Community: Property, Hierarchy and Cognatic Descent on the East African Coast. New York: Oxford Press, 1975, Ethnologue. Languages of Tanzania. 2012. Web. 11Th May 2012. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=tz Joshua Project. Tanzania – People Groups. 2011. Web. 11Th May 2012. http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=TZ Ndembwike, John. Tanzania: Profile of a Nation. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: New Africa Press, 2009. Print. The Joshua Project. Kutu of Tanzania. n.d. Web. 11Th May 2012. http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php TWFTW. God’s Word For All People In Their Heart Language: The Word for the Kutu. 1981- 2011. Web. 11Th May 2012. http://word.octadyne.net/files/documents/TWFTW0808_Icon%202.pdf Uganda Visit and Travel Guide (UVTG). The Culture of Kutu People in Tanzania. 2008-2012. Web. 11Th May 2012. http://www.uganda-visit-and-travel-guide.com/kutu-people.html Read More