Family Structure, Bridewealth, and Environment in Eastern Africa: A Comparative Study of House-Property Systems

Abstract

While the extended family acts as a property-holding unit in relation to other extended families, rights in property are complex and vary by social status; e.g., husband, wife, extended family head, daughter, or son. While the composition of extended families vary, the group forms the basis for the h-p system. This system is adapted to polygynous families, a common and highly desired form traditionally in the societies of eastern Africa. The extended family is itself divided into more or less independent units, called houses,