Here is your short essay on the Turner’s analysis of Mukanda.
Turner’s analysis of Mukanda can be describes as follows:
1. Mukanda helps redefine parent-child relationships:
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Mukanda modifies the mother-son and father-son relationships. In Turner’s words, “…after Mukanda the relationships between occupants of these three social positions are guided by different values and directed towards different goals than those that prevailed before that ritual. From being “unclean” children, partially effeminised by constant contact with their mothers…boys are converted…into purified members of a male moral community, able to take part in the usual, political and ritual affairs of Ndembu society”.
This helps to reshape links outside the family. Through the mother, a boy is affiliated to the matrilineal core of a village. Through has father, however he gets linked up with another village and wider social units like the vicinage, cheifdom and tribe. In Turner’s words, “Mukanda strengthens the wider and reduces the narrower loyalties”. Although matriliny governs descent, Mukanda emphasises the unity of males, irrespectives of matrilineal ties.
2. Mukanda as a mechanism for restoring equilibrium in society:
Mukanda is usually called for when there is a large number of young “unclean” uninitiated boys “hanging around” the women’s kitchens, prolonged attachment to the mother is regarded as dangerous and the boys are sought to be brought under the control of their fathers by ritually separating them from their mothers through Mukanda.
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3. Mukanda as a struggle for prestige:
The holding of Mukanda and the obligations and duties. It involves, providing a mechanism through which ovals may claim prestige and privileges in any future event of religious or secular importance.