TOPIC 04:DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS
KINSHIP/CLAN ORGANIZATION.
THE FAMILY.
Family means a combination of wife, husband and children. Family was the basic and the simplest means of production in the early agricultural societies.
THE CLAN ORGANIZATION
Clan means a combination of several related families with a common ancestor. clan organization combined with both the matrilineal and patrilineal societies. In the patrilineal societies clan heritage was based on the father, in the matrilineal clan heritage was based on the mother examples of this society were Mweras, Kambas and Kikuyus whom others are patrineals. The main economic activity in the clan organization was agriculture. The clan is controlled or ruled by the clan’s head. More examples of matrilineal societies; The Ngindo, Zaramo, Makua and Matumbi.
DUTIES OR FUNCTIONS OF THE CLAN HEAD
- To distribute land to the communities or clan members.
- To preserve traditions and customs of the clan.
- To preserve land belonging to the clan.
- To settle disputes and quarrels.
- To find wives for boys and husbands for girls.