Ghost Marriage and the Cattle Trade among the Atuot of the Southern Sudan

Extract

This essay attempts to interpret the apparent association between participation in the cattle trade of the Southern Sudan and the decreasing frequency of ghost marriage among the Atuot. The commentary on social change is peripheral to the analysis since this phenomenon is a constant rather than extraordinary social process. Arens (1976: 2) has recently emphasized the same point, adding ‘social change by its nature is a broad and ill-defined concept that cannot claim a distinct area of enquiry but rather allows for the choice of an infinite variety of areas for discussion.’ Because societies and cultures are products of historical processes they are likewise open and subject to perpetual change.

This study begins with a cursory discussion of recent Nilotic history followed by a summary description of the cattle trade. Certain forms of traditional Atuot marriage are then examined. In the conclusion, reference is drawn to data which support the assertion that involvement in this sector of the Sudanese economy directly influences the frequency of ghost marriage.

Résumé

MARIAGE FANTÔME ET COMMERCE DU BÉTAIL CHEZ LES ATUOT DANS LE SUD DU SOUDAN

On tente ici de déchiffrer les rapports qui existent entre une nouvelle forme de commercialisation du bétail où les animaux sont destinés à un marché et le déclin parallèle du mariage fantôme chez les Atuot. Cette analyse semblerait indiquer que la diffusion de cette activité chez les Atuot pourrait entraîner des changements démographiques importants dans leur société. De plus, tandis que l'on observe la régression d'une forme traditionnelle de mariage, le commerce du bétail risque fort d'encourager le développement d'une échange de prix de la fiancée.