Question

Discuss any four features of Tribe.

Answer 1

The Four features of tribes are as follows:

1. Social Organisation: Tribes often feature a kinship-based social structure, with members divided into extended families, clans, or lineages. Kinship ties are fundamental to the tribe's social cohesiveness and solidarity. Leadership responsibilities might be based on ancestry, age, or status, and decisions are frequently made by consensus among elders or powerful individuals.
2. Cultural Identity: Tribes have unique cultural identities, including shared practices, traditions, language, and belief systems. Cultural features can set tribes apart and foster a sense of belonging and cohesion among members. Rituals, rites, and art forms are important cultural traditions that assist tribal communities maintain their identity over time.
3. Subsistence Economy: Tribes have traditionally relied on subsistence economics, including hunting, gathering, fishing, herding, and small-scale agriculture, to support their basic requirements. Economic activities are often communal or cooperative, with resources shared among tribal members through reciprocity and mutual support. Traditional ecological knowledge is vital for resource management and maintaining tribal livelihoods in their natural habitats.
4. Territoriality and Mobility: Tribes usually live in areas with historical and cultural significance. Geographic characteristics, such as rivers, mountains, or woods, can define a tribe's territory and hold spiritual or symbolic importance. Tribes may have territorial boundaries, although their mobility patterns vary. Some live nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles, following seasonal resources or grazing areas, while others have more established patterns of residency.