Richard B. Lee introduced its intended audience to Dobe Ju/’hoansi, the tribe living in South Africa. Jus possess a culture that comes up with some unique elements that are not found in the modern world. The book discusses their family system, kinship, religion, economics, social lives and sustainability issues. This work is intended to dissect most of these elements to demonstrate the uniqueness of their culture.We intend to argue that Ju/’hoansi rich culture of its kind but still need to synchronize its pace of development with the modern world.
Culture, Kinship, family, and religion:
The culture of Dobe Ju/’hoansi comes up with a number of unique customs and elements that are not found in the traditional cultures of the time. Hunting is …show more content…
One camp is comprised of 10 to 30 people which change on monthly basis. There are two types of relationships in Dobe Ju/’hoansi: joking (grandparents and grand kids) and avoidance (parents and kids). The people in avoidance relationship are not allowed to marry. A man and woman can have identical names. Nicknames are extensively used. A woman cannot marry a person having the name of her brother or father.
There were very less illegitimate children back in 1964. The search for the life partners of the children starts after their birth. There is no love but arrange marriages. There is a tradition of kamasi: gift exchange before marriage. A good hunter is considered as a good son-in-law. The groom has to live with the family of the bride for a specific period after the marriage during which he hunts for them. Girls get married at the age of 12 to 16 and boys at the age of 18 to 25. Sexual jealousy is also quite common.
According to Dobe Ju/’hoansi, the universe is inhabited by a high god, a lesser god and the minor animal spirits. They bring luck or misfortune for people. Ju is the central actors in the world. There are healing trances at the night dances. The dancing increases the head which rises from the stomach to brain. This healer put their hand on the back of the sick and pull the sickness out. Becoming a healer is an honor but it is a difficult job.
Sustainability of …show more content…
The present state of living seems much better than what they had at the start of the last century. Most of the changes have occurred due to the economic and environmental development in the area. There is improvements int he lands of !Kangwa and Dobe. There are a few remnants showing the previous signs of the environment as well. Ju/’hoansi life in the new world is much better in terms of belief systems and customs as well. The agriculture society of the land was improved and the natives have started cultivating a variety of vegetables. The agricultural practices keep on changing with the seasons. Jus have also managed to save the livestock of sorghum, maize, and tobacco as well. The changes are beneficial to resolve the issues of supply of food in the land. But, the children at the young age have also started working and the subordination of the women has increased. The exchange system of goods is still prevalent in some areas. This system is called hxaro which serves to maintain the ecological balance. This practice maintains the social relations among the groups as well. More than 50% of the goods are attained through the same process. Despite many improvements, the society struggles to catch the pace of the moderns
Culture, Kinship, family, and religion:
The culture of Dobe Ju/’hoansi comes up with a number of unique customs and elements that are not found in the traditional cultures of the time. Hunting is …show more content…
One camp is comprised of 10 to 30 people which change on monthly basis. There are two types of relationships in Dobe Ju/’hoansi: joking (grandparents and grand kids) and avoidance (parents and kids). The people in avoidance relationship are not allowed to marry. A man and woman can have identical names. Nicknames are extensively used. A woman cannot marry a person having the name of her brother or father.
There were very less illegitimate children back in 1964. The search for the life partners of the children starts after their birth. There is no love but arrange marriages. There is a tradition of kamasi: gift exchange before marriage. A good hunter is considered as a good son-in-law. The groom has to live with the family of the bride for a specific period after the marriage during which he hunts for them. Girls get married at the age of 12 to 16 and boys at the age of 18 to 25. Sexual jealousy is also quite common.
According to Dobe Ju/’hoansi, the universe is inhabited by a high god, a lesser god and the minor animal spirits. They bring luck or misfortune for people. Ju is the central actors in the world. There are healing trances at the night dances. The dancing increases the head which rises from the stomach to brain. This healer put their hand on the back of the sick and pull the sickness out. Becoming a healer is an honor but it is a difficult job.
Sustainability of …show more content…
The present state of living seems much better than what they had at the start of the last century. Most of the changes have occurred due to the economic and environmental development in the area. There is improvements int he lands of !Kangwa and Dobe. There are a few remnants showing the previous signs of the environment as well. Ju/’hoansi life in the new world is much better in terms of belief systems and customs as well. The agriculture society of the land was improved and the natives have started cultivating a variety of vegetables. The agricultural practices keep on changing with the seasons. Jus have also managed to save the livestock of sorghum, maize, and tobacco as well. The changes are beneficial to resolve the issues of supply of food in the land. But, the children at the young age have also started working and the subordination of the women has increased. The exchange system of goods is still prevalent in some areas. This system is called hxaro which serves to maintain the ecological balance. This practice maintains the social relations among the groups as well. More than 50% of the goods are attained through the same process. Despite many improvements, the society struggles to catch the pace of the moderns