In popular language the word tribe gets tossed around quite
a bit, but it is often misused as it is misunderstood. Tribal societies are those that lack formal
social classes and formal governments, which most modern people are most
familiar with given that the world is primarily dominated by state
level societies. Despite a lack of
formal government tribal societies are not, in fact, lawless entities. They can be and often are governed by a
specific or group of leaders, typically either a village head or a big
man. Today’s post is dedicated to
understanding the differences between these two leadership types.
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| Figure 1: A Yanomami leader is an example of a village head. The Yanomamo reside in the Amazonian rainforests of South America. (National Geographic) |
The position of the village head (Figure 1) is one that an individual strives
to enter and become, which means this position is neither inherited nor traced
through familial lines. For an
individual to become the village head he (or she*) must persuade others to
following him and support his bid to be the village head. This is accomplished through a variety of means,
including being friendly, charismatic, and personable, as well as wealthy and
generous. Upon securing the position the
village head is responsible for hosting feasts and parties in order to hold the
position.
Given the amount of effort, time, and resources that must be
expended to secure and keep the position of the village head why would someone
want to hold it? Because of the prestige
and power associated with the position.
The village head is looked upon to resolve conflicts within the village,
and while his authority is limited and he has no way of imposing his decision
or providing punishments his ability to persuade the villagers to follow his
will is his asset. It is this same power
of persuasion that can be utilized to have villagers follow his commands or go
along with his ideas. This does not
mean, however, that he can abuse his power or station as village head. As easily as he acquired the position through
friendship and generosity he can also lose it from no longer being viewed as
friendly or generous as he once was.
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| Figure 2: A Dani leader is an example of a big man. The Dani reside in Papua New Guinea. (University of Manitoba) |
The position of big man (Figure 2) is similar to that of the village
head, but there are several key differences.
First, whereas the village head only has authority in one village the
big man has a larger scope of authority, typically holding authority over
several villages in a vast region. Also,
the big man position is secured through a man* (or woman) being friendly, charismatic,
generous, similar to the village head, but this individual must also be brave
and physically superior. In addition,
there may be an element of supernatural associated with why the man is chosen
as the big man. This regional authority
allows the big man to mobilize large groups of people to fulfill his will but
is maintained through regional feasts and festivals hosted by the big man. These efforts, however, net the big man the
power and authority to implement his decision in the event of conflicts-be they
relegated to one or more villages. So
while this position also requires a great deal of work the benefits are more
obvious and wider reaching.
*Note: While women can become leaders this rarely occurs due
to the gender roles of the society that limit the options for accumulating the wealth
or public prestige necessary to hold this position.
31 comments:
There is a Paul Newman movie called, The Long Hot Summer, in which Orson Wells plays a southern American town Big Man. I kept thinking of that when I was reading about Big Men. I think I got this wrong on the quiz so this helps. I didn't think either of them had any real authority and just picked one, wrong...
Paige Stevenson
Anthro 101 Summer II
It must be hard to keep the position of either a village head or a big man. Both have huge responsibilities and duties to uphold. It amazes me a big man has several villages to maintain. A big man makes me think of a big boss. I wonder how the villagers acted when he came around. I imagine it as when a big boss comes around- everyone acts in a perfect manner to please him.
I really enjoyed reading this post because it gave me more knowledge about a village head vs. a big man and the roles they play.
Hailey Hernandez
Anthro 101
Summer term 2
As I read this, it makes me wonder about a series of books I read. The first is Clan of the Cave bear. Its about a society of hunter gathers who take in a girl that they found near the brink of death. The story is set in the time of cave men,and had many different aspects of it that one could analyse. What this article makes me curious about is how the social structure would relate to these systems of leadership. There are two types of learder in the book a shaman, and what I would think of as village head. This is were it gets a little grey. It is made clear in the book that many generations of this family have been leaders of the tribe and the son is even expected to fallow him. However, it is hinted at that if the son was unfit the position would go to someone else. It is also made clear that, even though the leader has the final say, decisions are mostly made by the group. This lends to the theory that he could be classified as a village head. The reason I don't think he could be a big man is because he doesn't have sway with other bands. All this makes it interesting to try and classify The Clan of the Cave Bear.
It is really hard to determine the difference between a big man and a village head i see a big man as being older because when I think of a big man I think about them being wise. With a village head they do more hands on work with the community so I would assume they would have to be young and in good health.
It actually has nothing to do with age but amount of people governed and the amount of authority that the leader has. Village Heads govern just one village and have limited authority, whereas Big Men have govern many villages and have some authority to back up what he/she asserts. :)
So the title "big man" isn't based purely on stature? As figure 1 shows the village head is much larger than the rest of the group but he was, for lack of a better word, "elected" correct? But the big man is followed because of the same things but has a wider range of constituents?
Stature has no direct bearing on who is chosen as Big Man, unless someone has a personal preference toward height in some way. And yes, primary differences between the two are number of individuals the leader is in charge of.
Stature has no direct bearing on who is chosen as Big Man, unless someone has a personal preference toward height in some way. And yes, primary differences between the two are number of individuals the leader is in charge of.
It sounds very exhausting to be a Big Man or Village Head, but it sounds like the power can't go to their head. They still have to be "friendly, charismatic, and generous".
Very intriguing to know that there was a difference in leadership. Prior to reading this piece i did not know what the term for the leader of a village would even be referred to as.
Jordan R
Being the Village Head or Big Man, seems the same as today somebody trying to work for a promotion in a job. They both need the good qualities and to make people happy so then they can command more people below them and they have to keep them happy or they can lose that position as well. It is interesting seeing that they did not appoint the seeming leader. It was a position that was earned through tough persistence and in turn they get power over people.
I enjoyed reading about the Village Head and the Big Man to me it's like saying your father is the village head and the president is the big man since he runs everything and although he can't make all the decisions himself he is up where he is do to the people that support him cause without the support of the people he wouldn't be in the position he is now.
-Erick Anguiano
It seems like since the big man can take control of more regions that he needs the village man to look after the villages that he has taken control of. But what will happen if the big man dies unexpected? Wouldn't one of the Village man have to step up? But since there are so many Village man how does one choose between them in order to determine which one can become Big Man? -Julia Hartley
Julia, Village Heads and Big Men are two separate leaders and they do not lead together but separately. In that way a Village Head would not rule under a Big Man. In the event any leader passes away suddenly typically a new one steps up bases on his/her ability to woo the rest of the community and spread his/her wealth.
Julia, Village Heads and Big Men are two separate leaders and they do not lead together but separately. In that way a Village Head would not rule under a Big Man. In the event any leader passes away suddenly typically a new one steps up bases on his/her ability to woo the rest of the community and spread his/her wealth.
Some tribes has a different selection process to determine the next leader. This might include going through some ritual or passing some sort of test. That "Big man" might have several villages to manage, just like how owners of many corporations has tons of other locations to keep track of.
Does a village head have multiple wives because of his position of power? Does he receive the best food or shelter of the group? Do the answers to these questions vary widely between groups of people?
It's clear the primary difference between the two positions is the reach of one's political power. With that said, at first it seemed as if the two would operate similarly to our nation's structure, with a President overseeing the nation while governors oversee the individual states; however, after reading a comment above in which it is mentioned a Village Head would not rule under a Big Man, I was quickly forced to retract that thought.
Neva Rodrigues
ANTH 101, Section 3001
These are more of the social structures that I have had an opportunity to be around. from the Hawaiians (historically) that are a combination of village leaders and overall big men (king or queen)to the local villages in the middle east. it is a very different dynamic when contrasted against our structure here at home. sometimes I think that the village leader system is a far better way to go when it comes to taking care of people.
It sounds stressful to be an Big Man or Village Head. Seems like you have a lot on your plate and to handle. It's pretty cool that a woman can be a Big Man.
Aaliyah Caldwell
This article was a very interesting read because I never knew they had these positions. I always thought the chief of the tribe was over everything. Now I learn about 2 more positions that seem larger than the chief. The Big Man to me would be todays president. because he has multiple different tribes behind him whereas the village head has that particular village or like the governor has that specific state.
Its really cool that anybody has the chance to become a Big Man. But if it were me I don't know if I could do it it just seems too stressful to me.
I like the concept of a Village Head and the Big Man. It's like they both are leaders but lead in separate ways. Separate parts but one common goal.
I did not really know about the big man I’ve played a lot of games and read a lot of books with a head of a village up the big man was never a thing from ay o those games or maybe they would have a different name I also learned that the village head has to hold his power through generosity I always thought that it was just the village elder
Comparing the Village head from the big man is that like in America our president from our vice president kinda standing? Depending on what certain issues you relate to?
No, not quite. They are both formal leaders that act separate of each other. Each society and culture will have either a Big Man or Village Head, depending on the sociopolitical organization of the group. An equivalent would be President (an elected leader who must keep his or her position through charismatic and fair leadership) vs. a monarch (who is has been predestined by god or gods to rule the people and land).
Tiffany Heavens
- I like that they allow women the opportunity to be leaders and the fact that the leaders are not held to a higher standard and can be removed from power.
I like how the Big Man or the Village Class don't let their power & authority get to his head. I also like that even though they have so much on their plates they still be friendly, charismatic, and generous.
-Monique McAllister
I think of it as Game of Thrones(sorry to be that guy) in the way of that there is one true king of the Iron Throne, yet there are houses that are rulers of their own land with their own rules and ways.
the gender roles of society have changed drastically. Back in the day a woman having a job or being a leader of something would be a catastrophe that is not the case today. It's amazing how far women have come since then. Now we have women running businesses alone and being leaders.
-apreshana page
I agree with your comment. Especially with them having to be friendly and generous. The Big Man in the village reminds me of someone that would be elected Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. They have a lot of responsibilities, yet some would become cocky, they cannot. They have to be the bigger person at all times.
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