Tribal Innovators: Tswana Chiefs and Social Change 1795-1940

by Isaac Schapera

Overview

This book is a completely revised version of a study published in 1943. That study, entitled Tribal Legislation among the Tswana of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, dealt with the role of chiefs as agents of social change and, in particular, with the changes they brought about by making new laws. It described the various kinds of legislative process current among the Tswana, and reviewed systematically the content and scope of the many laws made, from the earliest known instances up to the time of writing (1942), in eight different chiefdoms or 'tribes'; it also stated, where possible, why those laws were enacted, and discussed how far they really succeeded in establishing new ways of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367717193
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/31/2021
Series:	LSE Monographs on Social Anthropology , #91
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Abbreviations xii

Part I The Chief as Innovator

I Social Change among the Tswana 3

The transformation of Tswana life 3

Role of the chief 7

Scope of this study 9

Sources of information 13

2 The Chief as Innovator 18

Legislative procedure 18

Legislation by decree 25

Judicial decisions 31

Administrative action 37

Personal influence 42

Appendix: Wording of Laws 45

3 Role of the Administration 51

Early Government policy 51

The Native Advisory Council 55

Reform of tribal government 60

Part II Laws and Acts of the Chiefs

4 Tribal Government 67

Central administration 67

Tribute and taxation 74

Local government 81

Treatment of subject peoples 86

Composition and work of courts 91

5 Economic Life 96

Land and water rights 96

Agriculture and animal husbandry 101

Natural resources 106

Regulation of trade 108

Regulation of labour 115

6 Religion and Magic 119

Adoption of Christianity 119

Changes in tribal rites 124

Magic and sorcery 129

7 Domestic and Social Life 134

Marriage and bridewealth 134

Adultery and divorce 140

Inheritance 144

Control of strong drink 146

Village regulations 150

Part III Tswana Chiefs and Social Change

8 Motives for Innovation 155

European influences 155

Domestic causes 162

Local diversity 170

The personal factor 178

9 Chiefs and Public Opinion 189

Freedom of action 189

Reactions of tribesmen 198

Resistance to change 206

Enforcement of laws 213

10 Tswana Chiefs and Social Change 228

Other agents of change 228

Work of the chiefs 238

Borrowing and originality 243

Influence on social change 255

Comparative Table of Chiefs, 1795-1940 266

List of Works Cited 268

Index 273