The Gisu of Uganda by J. S. La Fontaine

Author:J. S. La Fontaine [Fontaine, J. S. La]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138233003
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2019-01-08T00:00:00+00:00

The Heir

The heir to the status and authority of a man is decided by a meeting held at the end of the period of mourning. The man is usually one of the man’s brothers, though the eldest son may be chosen if he is considered worthy. His duties are to care for the widows and daughters of the deceased and to see that all the sons get their proper share of the inheritance. The heir does not necessarily inherit all the widows, though he usually inherits at least one, but he is regarded as taking the dead man’s place in the regulation of domestic affairs among his descendants and acts for them in lineage matters. In the south it is said that a son could inherit the widows of his father (other than his own mother) but this was not so among the northern peoples. A widow may choose not to be inherited by her husband’s lineage after his death, in which case her late husband’s heir must receive at least a part of the bridewealth from her father. The amount refunded depends on her age and the number of children she has borne. Children of a woman inherited in this way are not the children of the dead man and have no rights over his property, unless there are no sons to inherit, when, as brothers’ sons, they may inherit.

Succession to a status involving wider authority than that of the domestic group is, in theory, to the most suitable man within the relevant lineage group. Thus, if the head of a minor lineage dies, his successor may be a man of his own or any of the minimal segments of the lineage. Where headship of a lineage segment is concerned, succession is limited to members of that segment. In practice, the dead man’s social status often goes to his brother in trust for a son. Which son is to succeed is generally decided by the meeting of the lineage at the end of the mourning period. The heir to a ritual position is generally designated by the incumbent during his lifetime and has had some training before succeeding to the position.

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