Social Integration of the San Society from the Viewpoint of Sexual Relationships

Abstract

The Central Kalahari San, living in the central part of Botswana, practice divorce and remarriage frequently. Most people have experienced marriage more than twice in their lives. The rate of polygamous marriage is rather high, and moreover, a kind of love-relationship called zaku, which is usually recognized openly, is widely seen in this society. Four examples of social clusters united by marriage and other sexual relationships are here examined and analyzed to see how those sexual relationships affect inter-personal relations and residential grouping. This is done in order to clarify an aspect of the principle of San social integration.