One of the most crucial social organizing factors is kinship. This is prevalent throughout society, whether you look at it from East to West or North to South. This social institution creates a connection and builds a bond between individuals and groups.
Marriage and reproduction are the most fundamental kinds of bonds.
The term “kinship” refers to a group of connections and links that are founded on blood ties (consanguineous marriage) or marriage (affinal).
In Nigeria, kinship plays a multiple role in the social structure. The value of kinship is evident at family gatherings and throughout marriage. Kinship styles are the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of members of society. It is impossible to undervalue or ignore the value of kinship in Nigeria.
Types of Kinship
Kinship is founded on two major factors.
1. Birth (Blood connections)
This kinship is based on blood relationships, including those between parents and children and between close siblings. It is thought to be the fundamental and common factor in all interactions.
2. Marriage
Marriage serves as the foundation for the last line of kinship. The fundamental kin relations are those that exist between a husband and wife.
The purposes of kinship
1. Kinship establishes rules for interpersonal interactions. Between a father and daughter, a brother and a sister, etc., it establishes the right, acceptable roles to play.
2. Family line ties are determined by kinship.
3. Kinship determines relationships that are prohibited by marriage.
4. Kinship enables us to ascertain the members’ rights and obligations in all sacraments and religious rituals, from birth to death.
5. The kinship system promotes family unity.
6. Kinship relationships determine the legal status of the family and marriage, the mode of production, and the distribution of political power in rural and tribal civilizations.
7. Kinship regulates the behavior of various kin through its many applications.
8. Kinship aids in classifying kin of different categories, such as classificatory and descriptive, through the use of kinship terminology.
9. Kinship produces unique kin groups through the ways it is used.
10. The power dynamics between kins are governed by kinship laws.
11. Kinship controls social behavior.
Importance of kinship in Nigeria
1. Kinship defines relationships and assigns rules for personal interactions
There are rules for how individuals should interact in Nigeria. Such rules and proper duties are assigned by kinship for interpersonal interactions. It outlines the rational and believable function of the interaction between family members.
Father and son relationships; father and daughter ties; mother and son relationships; mother and daughter relationships; brother and sister relationships; and other family relationships are all influenced by kinship. The right manner for family members to interact with one another is brought about by kinship.
The system of production and political power, as well as the rights and obligations of the family and marriage, are all determined by kinship.
In Nigeria, kinship plays an important role in determining the duties and rights of the family. This frequently happens in rural and tribal areas.
Marriage rights and political power obligations are also defined by kinship. Additionally, it establishes the rights and obligations of the production system. These all take place within the family.
2. Kinship determines who is eligible to marry whom and where marriage is prohibited
In Nigeria, kinship is significant since it establishes who a person can marry and who they shouldn’t. Kinship also dictates where one should marry from and where one shouldn’t.
When a location issues a decree prohibiting marriage, such a marital union is viewed as improper. There would be no option but to comply. Kinship makes the decision on marriage.
3. Kinship helps in specific classifications
Kinship aids in the classification and naming of many forms of kin in Nigeria. Some terms inside the kinship system lead to this classification. These kinship terminologies allow for the identification, categorization, and description of various kin groups.
Kinship preserves unity in relationships.
4. Helps in Solidarity
The maintenance of ties’ sense of solidarity is another crucial aspect of kinship in Nigeria. The majority of the time, family members within the same family enjoy such strong bonds. The father, mother, kids, and any other family members present all take pleasure in this unity.
5. Kinship determines family line relationships
Relationships and familial lines are defined in Nigeria in this way. Depending on the family at issue, a relationship within that family may be close or distant. As a result, the Nigerian kinship system can function in a way that allows for the identification of family line links.
6. Kinship Controls Social Life
The role of kinship in Nigeria as a social life regulator is another benefit of kinship. Social life is regulated in practically all societies, Nigeria included. The ability to regulate social life is only made possible by kinship.
7. They create special groupings of kins
One of the many benefits of kinship in Nigeria is the formation of assemblages of kin through its practice. The grouping of kin can be formed by utilizing kinship in several ways. As a result, the use of kinship results in the formation of unique groupings of kin.
8. Helps to regulate behavior
Another significant function of kinship in Nigeria is to control the behavior of various relatives. In other words, kinship regulates how members of the same kin behave.
9. Kinship regulates land ownership, the concept of wealth, and the production system
One of the many benefits of kinship in Nigeria is that it affects who owns land, what wealth is, how it is produced, and how it is used. Other facets of kinship within the Nigerian family are influenced by kinship as well. Land ownership within the family is one of these kinship facets. It also affects how money is thought of and how different family members use it.
10. Regulates roles among kins
One of the primary functions of kinship in Nigeria is to regulate the role of ties between kins. There are some rules in kinship, and these norms have a way of affecting or influencing the function of connections within the family.
There will be a kinship rule that governs the role of the relationship with the family among many kins.
11. Kinship assists in establishing the rights and obligations of members of religious practices
In Nigeria, kinship influences how each member of a religious group is expected to behave in terms of rights, obligations, and religious activities. The rights of the people, as well as their duties and obligations, are determined by their kinship.
Who belongs to or partakes in religious rituals and sacraments is also determined by kinship. All of these start at the moment of birth and continue until the person dies.
12. In Nigeria, kinship gives its members a sense of protection
They usually control the traditions surrounding marriage and everything else. Kinship enables people to stick together during trying times. In any society, kinship serves to strengthen community cohesion if there is one thing it can be said to do.
When residents of a rural area commit a crime, their kinship influences how severely they will be punished. Community members become closer to one another through kinship. It works to foster a sense of community among its members. Family customs are established in part through kinship. It explains inheritance in a familial context.
Summary of the importance of kinship in Nigeria
1. It keeps relationships cohesive, harmonious, and cooperative.
2. Kinship establishes rules for interpersonal relations and communication.
3. Helps to clarify who you can marry.
4. Different kin’s behaviors are controlled by kinship.
5. Kinship serves as a social life’s watchdog.
6. Kinship specifies the roles and responsibilities of the family, marriage, and the systems of production and power in tribal or rural societies.
7. It aids in improving understanding of interpersonal relationships.
8. It fosters development and improves interpersonal relationships in society.
Author
Abbey Johnson has a Masters degree as an engineer and has over 3 years of teaching and research experience. He is happiest when on a bike and is also interested in electric energy and computer Science.