Conception, De-Conception and Social Structure in Bush Mekeo Culture

Abstract

According to a contradiction of endogamy vs. exogamy (or of ‘blood’ vs. ‘non-blood’ relationship) in Bush Mekeo culture, non-relatives may marry and conceive by ‘mixing’ of distinct procreative clan bloods. By means of marriage and mortuary reciprocities, on the other hand, relatives or kin are ‘de-conceived’ through the ‘unmixing’ of non-procreative clan bloods. Thus, Bush Mekeo social structure is preserved through time: While the boundaries distinguishing unilineal descent groups are maintained constant, non-relatives are translated into affines who generate bilateral kin, and bilateral kin are translated into nonrelatives and, thereby, potential affines.

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