Men, Women and Mukanda: A Transformational Analysis of Circumcision among Two West Central African Tribes

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Periodical article

Title:	Men, Women and Mukanda: A Transformational Analysis of Circumcision among Two West Central African Tribes
Author:	Just, Peter
Year:	1972
Periodical:	African Social Research
Issue:	13
Period:	June
Pages:	187-206
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zambia
Subjects:	Ndembu Luvale circumcision Women's Issues Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Abstract:	Attempts to apply some aspects of Lévi-Strauss' notion of transformational analysis to ritual rather than to myth. The author presupposes that transformations in the focus of the ritual will be accompanied by analogous transformations in social structure. In this context, he analyses the relationship between Ndembu social structure and Ndembu Mukanda, the circumcision ritual, and the relationship between Luvale Mukanda and Luvale social structure. He also examines the transformations between Ndembu and Luvale Mukanda, and the transformation between Ndembu social structure and Luvale social structure. Special attention has been paid to social and political organization, kinship, ritual roles and procedures, modes of social control, and village stability. Notes, ref.