Something good but nothing to be proud of : inheritance and succession practices, and sociopolitical stakes in times of decentralization in Marracuene, Mozambique / Fernando Matai Manjate.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Matai Manjate, Fernando, author.

Contributor:

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Series:

Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Uppsala studies in cultural anthropology ; no 63.

Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Uppsala studies in cultural anthropology, 0348-5099 ; no 63

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Inheritance and succession--Mozambique--Marracuene (District).

Inheritance and succession.

Marracuene (Mozambique : District)--Economic conditions.

Marracuene (Mozambique : District).

Mozambique--Economic conditions--21st century.

Mozambique.

Economic history.

Mozambique--Marracuene (District).

Physical Description:

253 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Uppsala : Uppsala Universitet, [2022]

Summary:

"This ethnographic study focuses on inheritance and succession practices and sociopolitical stakes in present-day Marracuene in southern Mozambique. It explores how in contexts of rapid economic, social, cultural and political change, individuals, social actors and institutions deal with inheritance and succession rights, both when the property holders and incumbents are still alive and after they have passed away. Besides exploring legal processes, this study approaches inheritance and succession as social, cultural, economic and political processes. The findings show that there are general principles of inheritance and succession: a man is supposed to transfer inheritance to his wife and children and to be succeeded by his eldest child. However, such principles are often overruled, which can lead to disinheritance and dispossession of widows and orphans. The actual inheritance and succession practices result from a combination of factors. They include the economic and cultural values of the properties and positions in question (and the ways through which they were acquired), the power and authority of the actors, the power relations between different social actors involved in each case, the normative orders referred to and their interpretation and practical implementation, and the institutions involved in the process of decision-making. Overall, people have different understandings of inheritance and succession that furthermore more influence practices. In a local context of legal pluralism, individuals and groups tend to combine different normative orders and practices to claim and secure their rights, or to protect themselves whenever their rights are questioned. Through detailed ethnographic descriptions, the study demonstrates that inheritance and succession are complex processes and depend on economic, social, cultural and political factors at play in specific circumstances."--From publisher.

Notes:

Thesis (doctoral)--Uppsala University, 2022.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 241-253).

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9789151314419

915131441X

OCLC:

1329218972