Abstract
Kinship refers to human relationships by blood or marriage to another or others. It can also be defined as relatedness through having characteristics in common, or through coming from the same origin. This study focuses on how the Yanamamo, which is a foraging and horticultural society, practices kinship ties, and how these ties provide support in all the stages of their lives. By definition, horticulture, in this concept refers to a simple form of agriculture based on working on small plots of land without using draught animals, ploughs or irrigation, while foraging is the search or processes of searching for something, especially food.
Kinship Organizations among the Yanomamo
The Yanomamo, a tribe that lived in the Amazon rainforest of Venezuela, and who were a horticultural based society, kinship ties provided fruitful relationships. Relationships between one village and another were determined through reciprocal gift giving. According to Sahlin (1972), reciprocity is an economic system of exchange of goods and services that occurs between members of a kinship group, and which works under the principle of mutual agreement.
The Yanomamo would organize a village feast and invite a friendly neighboring village to join them. In the feast there would be exchange of tools, baskets, dogs and weapons, in which it would be done carefully to ensure equity. This feasts and exchanges were important in that they helped to maintain intervillage relationships and cooperation, provided a venue for marital exchanges, and developed and strengthened political alliances if war arose. However, if there was no equity, Chagnon (1992) notes that, the feasting relationships could be ended and hostility developed between the communities.
Another notable characteristic among the horticultural societies is the division of labor, where the sexual division of labor evolved out of the foraging mode of living. Women, who were largely involved with plants, for instance, where the plants grew, the type of soil the plants liked, kind of drainage, how much sun or shade and so forth, acquired great knowledge of plants than men. On the other hand, men had greater knowledge of animal behavior and therefore got involved in domestication. In this regard therefore, women are found to play a central role in cultivation activities. Anthropologists therefore argue that the women’s central role in horticultural production provides them with cultural value and decision-making authority.
Conflict resolution is another area of consideration among the Yanomamo. In his study, Chagnon (1974), found out that nearly 33 percent of all male deaths and 7 percent of all female deaths resulted from ambushes and raids. Men who are aggressive are highly valued in Yanomamo culture since they are fearless and strong and they therefore intimidate enemies. Their aggression is public, institutionalized, and highly ritualized. It follows an established set of rules. Among this group, there exists a hierarchy of increasing levels of violence and most duels are between individuals from different villages.
The first level of aggression is designed to dilute anger and it involves lengthy speeches. If speeches fail to work, it moves to the next level which involves chest pounding by duels. In these, a man stands upright and immobile while his opponent punches him full force in the chest, then they switch roles. This continues until one of them retreats, collapses, or is injured. The final level of aggression involves fighting with clubs of which the violence now spreads to include supporters on each side. At this level, the fight takes place under controlled conditions so as to manage the competition and hostility before it leads to murder.
According to Chagnon (1988), these duels are used to release men’s aggression as well as resolving conflicts, caused by sexual matters such as wife’s infidelity, kidnapping failure to honor a girl promised for marriage and rarely, rape cases.
There are two opposing theories which try to suggest why the Yanomamo engage in warfare. Chagnon (1988), argues that polygyny and the limited availability of women results in war as a way to acquire women from their enemies, while Harris (1974, 1979), indicates that raiding is for the acquisition of hunting land. Johnson and Earle (2000), however argues that neither Chagnon nor Harris is correct, but neither are they wrong. They have a strong believe that the Yanomamo have gotten into a cycle of violence from which they cannot break out.
Johnson and Earle (2000), suggests that men carry resentment for past wrongs and the fear that they may be taken advantage of unless they demonstrate their willingness to protect themselves and their rights. Aggressive behavior is therefore highly valued and dominates Yanomamo life, reinforcing its existence.
Division of labor is present in our society as well as conflict resolution. It does not however take a similar ground as that of Yanomamo tribe, since the men take the central role and have the authority in decision making. Conflict resolution does not involve settling the scores physically but is addressed in a mode involving dialogue.
Kinship impacts similar behavior in my life since it creates a sense of belonging as well as enabling me to resolve conflicts in my life in a more civilized manner.
References
Chagnon A. N (1988) Male Yanomamo manipulation of kinship mindcycle. Retrieved on 22nd
Feb. http://blog.mindcycle.org/files/summary_chagnon.pdf
Harris M. (1974). Cultural ecology. Retrieved on 22nd Feb. Retrieved from
Johnson A.W and Earle K.T (2000) The evolution of human societies: From foraging group to
agrarian state. Stanford university press.
Sahlin S. (1972). Stone age economics. Stanford university press.
