Food Sharing among the Aka Hunter-Gatherers in Northeastern Congo

Abstract

This paper dscribes and analyzes food sharing among tha Aka hunter-gatharers in northeastern Congo, based on quantitative data collected during long-term field research. First, the social connotation of the "possession" of food among the Aka is analized. Like in other hunter-gatherer societies, Aka "possession" of food can be revealed only through the analysis of actual food sharing process. The "ownership" does not mean the exclucive right over the food, but indicates the responsibility for sharing it with orhers. The "owners" of food do not decide whether food is shared or not. Thier concern about food sharing is only how to share it; which parts of food are given to whom. The concept of "ownership" produces the "giver" and "receiver, " thus connecting food sharing with the social relationship in the Aka society. Second, informal nature of food sharing is described. The choice of receivers is not determined by the formal social relationship such as kinship, but by "face to face relationship" created in the co-residential group. This may be one of the core characteristics of food sharing in the isolated small group.