Tribe and Social Change in South Central Africa: A Situational Approach

• Published in: Journal of Asian and African studies (Leiden) 1970, Vol.5 (1-2), p.83-101
• Main Author: Mitchell, J. Clyde
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Africa/African/Africans; Culture/Cultures/Cultural/ Culturally; Ethnic/Ethnically; Ethnicity/Ethnicism; Industrialization/Industrializing (see also Industrial, Industrialized); Phenomena/Phenomenon/Phenomenal/ Phenomenalists/ Phenomenalistic (see also Phenomenology); Situation/Situations/Situational; Social change; Social structure/Social structures; Zambia/Zambian/Zambians
• ISSN: 0021-9096; 1745-2538; 1568-5217
• DOI: 10.1163/15685217-90007040

The ideal notion of the 'tribe' as a clear cut isolable soc unit is inappropriate in continental societies & those undergoing industr'ization. Equally the 'tribe' defined in terms of cutture is analytically unsatisfactory. It is an abstraction not only of the anthrop'st but also of the people concerned. A phenemenological approach is therefore necessary. Actors attribute meaning to 'tribal' criteria according to the way they define the soc situation. The interaction flowing from this definition may be categorical in anonymous situations, is ethnic indicators predicate soc expectation, or it may be enduring in which shared cultural characteristics are a conscious feature. Examples of observable cultural traits which may thus operate as ethnically diacritical features are dances, languages, costume, body marks, hairstyles & diet. These sometimes form the basis of ethnic stereotypes which in turn provide the basis of categorical relationships in large-scale societies. 'Tribal' stereotypes emerged particularly when peoples of diverse ethnic origin were absorbed into the labor strengths of large commercial enterprises. This allowed migrants to handle otherwise hopelessly complex relationships. 'Tribal' distance studies in Zambia revealed the basis upon which the categorization operated. The same process was revealed in the analysis of incidents involving 'tribal' joking. 'Homeboy' cliques described in several accounts of soc structure In African towns are ostensibly based in ethnic criteria but a more detailed inquiry shows that several diff types of association may incorrectly be thus categorized. The features of the association are characteristic of the situations in which they operate. Because of its implication of divisiveness 'tribalism' in modern South Central Africa has pol'al implications. Pol'al divisions are frequently seen as arising from 'ethnic hostilities.' The position, however, is rather that divergent interests are likely to result In oppositions to those in power which are expressed in an ethnic idiom. Because econ, religious & other soc ties frequently coincide with ethnic divisions it is often difficult to separate ethnic from other oppositions. Ethnic diff's are likely to be submerged within minority groups such as elites. Modern conditions involving standardized dress, language & custom militate against visible diff's. But this does not necessarily imply the disappearance of ethnicity which in the diversity of modern life may become the sy