African Societies

In African Societies, Lucy Mair unites the two main strands of anthropology teaching: the discussion and illustration of the various analytical concepts used by anthropologists in the study of social systems; and ethnography – the detailed study of particular societies, nowadays obtained by participant observation. All societies discussed are in sub-Saharan Africa. This 1977 book will be of great use to students of social anthropology studying ethnography. Presenting as it does brief ethnographic accounts of a wide variety of African societies, as well as exemplifications and discussions of many theoretical concepts, the book offers the reader quick and easy access to a large body of information which previously had to be mined from a large number of monographs.

1. African societies; 2. Food-gatherers: the Mbuti Pygmies; 3. Nomad herdsmen: the Karimojong; 4. Cultivators: the Gwembe Tonga; 5. Agnatic descent: the Tallensi; 6. Matrilineal descent: the Lele; 7. Matrilineal descent: the Plateau Tongo; 8. Double unilineal descent: the Yakö; 9. Cognatic descent: the Ndendeuli; 10. An acephalous political system: the Nuer; 11. Law in an age-based political system: the Arusha; 12. Kingdoms; 13. Checks and balances: Benin; 14. Stratified policies: Rwanda and Burundi; 15. Old wine in new bottles: Bunyoro and Buganda; 16. Religion and Society: the Dinka; 17. Religion and science: the Kalabari; 18. Witchcraft and oracles: the Azande; 19. Witchcraft and morals: the Nyakyusa; References; Index.

In African Societies, Lucy Mair unites the two main strands of anthropology teaching: the discussion and illustration of the various analytical concepts used by anthropologists in the study of social systems; and ethnography - the detailed study of particular societies, nowadays obtained by participant observation.