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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The southeastern African Bantu matrilineal tradition: the case of fertility regulation and child spacing beliefs and practices
Author:Wembah-Rashid, J.A.R.
Year:1995
Periodical:Journal of Asian and African Studies (Tokyo)
Issue:50
Pages:43-58
Language:English
Geographic terms:Tanzania
Mozambique
Malawi
Subjects:family planning
matriarchy
fertility
Abstract:Standard British anthropological literature maintains that the Bantu from southeastern Africa are matrilineal. The present author argues that matriliny in this region has undergone and is still undergoing changes. Focusing on past and current beliefs and practices associated with fertility regulation and child spacing he demonstrates that the matrilineal tradition in these domains has changed, notably among women with no steady marriage. Mothers with failed marriages, those who had remarried or had children out of wedlock, or women who were divorced, did not practise strict child spacing as the matrilineal tradition demanded. The article covers the past thirty years from 1965 and is confined to the peoples who inhabit southeastern Malawi, northern Mozambique and southeastern Tanzania, i.e. Yao, Makua, Makonde, Mwera and others related to them. The author himself carried out fieldwork in five districts of Lindi and Mtwara administrative regions in southeastern Tanzania. Bibliogr., sum.
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