The Kayapo's kinship ties are subject to manipulation and dismissal, they can be acquired through adoption or friendship. This is at times done in order for a community member to achieve a desired outcome or treasure, such as a bride wealth or to gain status. They have a very flexible way of naming kin hence the reason why it is difficult to create Kayapo genealogies. While someone who is blood related can be considered unrelated a complete stranger from a different tribe can gain many kin through a social movement. The reason it is difficult to track these changes in related kin is because it largely depends on inner family conflicts. In this way of acquiring kin the Kayapo strengthen and solidify their villages co-existence.
Important kinship and ceremonial relationships are those between ngêt (mother's father, father's father, and sister's brother) and tabdjuo (daughter's son, son's son, and sister's son) or between kwatui (mother's mother, father's mother, and father's sister) and tabdjuo (daughter's daughter, son's daughter, and brother's daughter). Ngêt and kwatui give their names and ceremonial privileges to their tabdjuo. This institution is one of the most important for the perpetuation of Kayapó society.
Formal friendship relationships are inherited patrilineally but are between nonrelated persons with whom a special relationship of respect and avoidance is maintained. A formal friend plays an important role during certain ceremonies in which he assists his partner, especially during rites of passage.
2013 Xikrin-Kinship. Electronic Document.
http://www.everyculture.com/South-America/Xikrin-Kinship.html
No comments:
Post a Comment