Nuer Lives Analysis

Register to read the introduction… Evans-Pritchard, and Nuer Journeys, Nuer Lives, by Jon D. Holtzman, the lives of pastoralists in southern Sudan are discussed. In the selection by Evans-Pritchard, we learn about a group who’s social and economic structures rely heavily on cattle. Cattle cannot be tended by a single family alone, so several families may tend and protect their cattle together. The cattle belong to the head of the household, and even among his death, the family is reluctant to break up the herd, at least until all of the sons have married (Evans-Pritchard 17). The herd is considered to be common wealth, to the point where if one of the daughters of a brother is married, part of the cattle from her bride-wealth goes to her uncle’s along with her father. Actually, everyone within her family, from grandparents to distant relatives receive a portion. These tribes have strong family ties and roots, even though they are considered to be somewhat nomadic. Even when they travel, their kinship ties them together. The tribes generally do not kill the cows for meat unless they are eaten during a sacrifice or the animal dies a natural death, since they are highly prized. The cows are used for their milk, which is a main staple of the Nuer diet. This focus on cattle dominates the Nuer lifestyle, and provides them with a way of life to carry into their future. This way of life is very exclusive, and the death of the cattle may lead to the death of a tribe. Holtzman talks about a group of Nuer people who now live in the US. They are still very connected to their kin in both the US and Sudan. They have essentially modernized, with members of the group now working at jobs and going to college, rather than tending cattle. They use currency over cattle now, and they live a more stable rather than Nomadic …show more content…
Many of us get varieties of processed food from a store instead of growing our own staples. We have an intricate food chain, extending from the one farmer to hundreds of consumers (Pollan 34). We focus on providing cheap and abundant products, compared to lifestyles past. We are now struggling to find what to eat and relying on experts, instead of rely on our instincts like our ancestors, which could hurt us in the future. Pollan says that we also cannot go back to our past, due to the large population being