The Inheritance of Private Property among the Nama of Southern Africa Reconsidered

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Periodical article

Title:	The Inheritance of Private Property among the Nama of Southern Africa Reconsidered
Author:	Carstens, Peter
Year:	1983
Periodical:	Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Volume:	53
Issue:	2
Pages:	58-70
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	South Africa Namibia
Subjects:	Nama customary law family law Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External links:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/1160559 https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:4011-1983-053-00-000011
Abstract:	Among the Nama Khoikhoi so-called 'rules' of inheritance vary a great deal depending on the contexts in which the system is viewed. There is, however, considerable agreement between Schapera's summary of the literature ('The Khoisan Peoples of South Africa', London, 1930) and those principles extracted from Mrs Hoernlé's field notes (1912, 1913, 1922-1923). But these principles make sense only when seen in the wider context of the society. In this regard author focusses especially on the status of women, the system of cross-sex descent, patrilineality, and residence, and clarifies the 'boundaries' between private and communal property. fig., notes, ref., sum., in French.