The Beng of the Ivory Coast

Key Terms Parallel Cousin marriage: marrying a cousin whose parent is of the same sex as your parent (the children of two brothers or two sisters) Cross Cousin marriage: marrying a cousin whose parent is of the opposite sex as your parent (the children of a brother and sister) Matrilateral vs. patrilateral cousin marriage: refers to whether it is a cousin on your mother’s side or your father’s side

Elementary & complex marriage systems Elementary – positive rules; prescriptions –Endogamy & descent Complex – negative rules; prohibitions –Exogamy & alliance Beng – inbetween; a combination

Lineal & colateral kin (sibling branches

Counting cousins

Basic cousin relationships

Matrilateral cross cousin marriage

Patrilateral cross-cousin marriage

Beng motivations for matrilateral parallel cousin marraige Couple arguments & matriclan Matriclan members resolve arguments Different matriclans – indifferent to arguments Greater clan involvement during marital conflicts A “positive relationship” (identity) – vs. patrikinship as a “negative relationship” (difference)

Matriclan: Identity Close identity, idea of interchangeability Shared clan treasure (gold nuggets, French coins, a stool) Shared substance through concept of shared breastmilk Strict obligations to help one another (with age important, as juniors may be called upon to do a lot of the work of fulfilling obligations)

Patriclan: Difference Members are united in their difference from other patriclans Each patriclan has a different set of food taboos Each patriclan has secret medicines to counteract effects of breaking food taboos Patriclans control the washing of corpses (uniting them to their patriclan and thus crossing back into identity)

Beng -- “complex” & “elementary” kinship system Matrilateral parallel cousin marriage & alliance theory – unites people who are already united (usually incest) Cross-cousin marriage – ambivalence about marrying close Birth order system regulates marital alliances – women regulating exchange –½ daughters assigned to each parent