DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0298
282 HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
The children of maternal uncles (C 6 and 8) and of paternal aunts (C 2 and 4) are
called cousins achasiwani (sing, msiwani), and, conversely, the children of maternal aunts
(C 7 and 9) and of paternal uncles (C 1 and 3) are called “ brothers and sisters one
would address the other as “ chemwali” or “ achimwene,” but either is mbako to the
other.
It is interesting, therefore, to note that cousinship is of two kinds: the relationship
between a child and his maternal aunts’ children or his paternal uncles’ children is uwako,
whereas the relationship with his maternal uncles’ children or his paternal aunts’ children
is usiwani.
It is easily understood why the maternal aunts’ children are considered as brothers and
sisters, as among the Yao, matrilineal descent is the rule, the children taking the clan of
the mother. In the diagram, this is indicated in black. That the paternal uncles’ children
bear the same relationship would seem to indicate that matrilineal descent is not absolute
but that dual descent from both parents is recognized.
Children C 5 may not marry C 7 and 9, nor C 1 and 3. In the case of the former, this
is because persons of the same clan may not marry, but in the case of the latter, no such
reason is given but they are simply said to be brothers and sisters. Children C 5 may
marry their cousins C 6 and 8 and C 2 and 4, but this is not very common as it is said such
marriages are always unhappy.
The wife of a maternal uncle (B 12) speaks of her nephew by marriage (C 5) as msono,
husband, because, in the event of her husband’s death, this nephew would inherit from
him and he might marry the widow.
A parent-in-law or child-in-law is called mkwegwe indifferently. Paternal and maternal
grand-parents, and great-uncles and aunts are all called ambuje; a grand-child, chisukulu.
The words atati and amao commonly mean father and mother, but, as given above, there
are other words for these two parents, whereas atati and amao are applied to certain aunts
The children of maternal uncles (C 6 and 8) and of paternal aunts (C 2 and 4) are
called cousins achasiwani (sing, msiwani), and, conversely, the children of maternal aunts
(C 7 and 9) and of paternal uncles (C 1 and 3) are called “ brothers and sisters one
would address the other as “ chemwali” or “ achimwene,” but either is mbako to the
other.
It is interesting, therefore, to note that cousinship is of two kinds: the relationship
between a child and his maternal aunts’ children or his paternal uncles’ children is uwako,
whereas the relationship with his maternal uncles’ children or his paternal aunts’ children
is usiwani.
It is easily understood why the maternal aunts’ children are considered as brothers and
sisters, as among the Yao, matrilineal descent is the rule, the children taking the clan of
the mother. In the diagram, this is indicated in black. That the paternal uncles’ children
bear the same relationship would seem to indicate that matrilineal descent is not absolute
but that dual descent from both parents is recognized.
Children C 5 may not marry C 7 and 9, nor C 1 and 3. In the case of the former, this
is because persons of the same clan may not marry, but in the case of the latter, no such
reason is given but they are simply said to be brothers and sisters. Children C 5 may
marry their cousins C 6 and 8 and C 2 and 4, but this is not very common as it is said such
marriages are always unhappy.
The wife of a maternal uncle (B 12) speaks of her nephew by marriage (C 5) as msono,
husband, because, in the event of her husband’s death, this nephew would inherit from
him and he might marry the widow.
A parent-in-law or child-in-law is called mkwegwe indifferently. Paternal and maternal
grand-parents, and great-uncles and aunts are all called ambuje; a grand-child, chisukulu.
The words atati and amao commonly mean father and mother, but, as given above, there
are other words for these two parents, whereas atati and amao are applied to certain aunts