The family and kinship of the Betsileo can be characterized
by the traditions of both the Eskimos (bilateral descent) and the Omaha (patriarchal
descent) systems. Although they put a great emphasis on the nuclear family,
they tend to lean towards a more patriarchal society. Farmland and other rights
can traced through the father’s lineage and children are linked more to their
fathers than to their mothers. The Betsileo also tend to place extra emphasize
certain relationships to prove that they descended from someone of great
importance. The only instance in which matriarchal lineage is used is in the
case of families that descended from slaves. In this instance, the mother
assumed all rights belonging to her children so the lineage is traced through
the mother.
Dating back to the beginning of the Betsileo culture,
polygamy was practiced and men with multiple wives were seen as having a high
social class. These men would run large farms and have many children and wives.
However, this practice is no longer used in the Betsileo society. When a woman
marries a man, the man gives an ox as a gift to the bride’s family. Many of the
Betsileo go through arranged marriages, which are decided on by the older women
of the family. Only after the bride and groom are married and have their first
child does the bride move into the groom’s village. The only exception is if
there is an opportunity to gain more land at the bride’s village, in that case,
they move to the bride’s village. Whenever a baby is born, a huge ceremony is
performed by the men in the father’s village to welcome the baby and mother
into the father’s home. Divorce is allowed in this society, but it is very
uncommon.
Kottak, Conrad Phillip
1971 Social Groups
and Kinship Calculation Among the Southern Betsileo. Electronic Document, http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/671820.pdf?acceptTC=true,
accessed March 24
I found it interesting that the Betsileo practiced polygamy in the early stages of their history. As I was reading up on their culture, I wondered why over time they stopped that practice. I have found that many African countries practice or have practiced polygamy at some point in their history. I am first generation American and my parents are from Kenya. My mom's dad had two wives. I also found that it is very uncommon for them to go through divorce. That is something that is very different that in our culture because it is so common for couples to get divorced.
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