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| Figure 1: Trobriand Islands |
Novice anthropology students are introduced to a variety of
anthropological concepts and cultures of the past and present. While each students’ experience can and does
vary there are common threads in all of our educational experiences regarding
the fundamental concepts, groups, and anthropological scholars we learn about,
and a set of those key concepts, groups, and scholars includes learning about reciprocity
(systems of exchange), the Trobriand Islanders, and Bronislaw Malinowski. Bronislaw Malinowski is considered the father
of sociocultural anthropology based on his pivotal ethnographic study of the
Trobriand Islanders. During his years of
living with the Trobriand Islanders Malinowski chronicled a great deal of their
cultural traditions, including the now famous kula exchange networks. This blog post is going to discuss this reciprocal
exchange network, explaining what it is and its value to the Trobriand
Islanders.
The Trobriand Islands are a series of islands in the South
Pacific off the coast of Eastern New Guinea (Figure 1). The inhabitants of these islands are aptly
called the Trobriand Islanders, who have and continue to practice their rich
cultural traditions as passed down through several generations. One such tradition is the kula exchange, a
system of reciprocal exchange where shells (Figure 2) are exchanged among
Trobriand Islander groups every two to five years.
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| Figure 2: Kula Shells (top left: mwali shells; bottom right: bagi shells) |
In the kula exchange two sets of shells are exchanged among Trobriand
Islanders: white arm shells, mwali, which
move counter clockwise among the islands, and red shell necklaces, bagi, which move clockwise among the islands
(Figure 3). Traditionally, a group of
men who have been selected and trained in the kula tradition will embark on the
kula exchange, thereby starting the kula exchange. Today, some women participate in the kula but
in very limited roles. Active members of
the kula exchange select new kula participants among their family members (e.g.
sons or brothers-in-law), but selection does not necessarily mean permanency as
individuals can be rejected from the kula participation if they continually
lose or break the kula shells. The kula
shells are considered valuable based on their use in the tradition, but they
can and do gain value based on the vibrancy of their color, size, and polish,
as well as the length of time they have been used in the kula exchange.
The purpose of the kula exchange is twofold: to either
surrender excess goods to assist trading partners who are in need or to trade
goods for necessities that other trading partners have. This is not very different from other systems
of reciprocal exchange (such as the Potlatch
among Pacific Northwest Coast American Indian groups). Trobriand Islanders remain in contact with
each other during the times when the kula is not actively done, so they are
always aware of when a need for resources, such as food or goods, arises and
when the kula should be initiated.
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| Figure 3: The Kula exchange network |
References Cited
Peters-Golden, H. (2011).
Culture Sketches: Case Studies in Anthropology. 6th Edition. Mc-Graw Hill Education.
10 comments:
This blog is interesting. I have not heard of the kula exchange before. Its interesting to know some of the things that are exchanged.
Reading about the Kula shells is very interesting. They explain how they exchange two sets of shells among the Trobriand Islanders. The white arm shells, mwali moves counter clockwise among the island, and the red shell necklace, bagi, moves clockwise among the island.
-Timyra Edwards
This is my first time hearing about Kula shells and Kula exchange. It was cool learning how the red and white shells move in opposite directions. The red moving clockwise and the white moving counter clockwise. It was also cool learning the purpose of the exchange. The purpose of the kula exchange is twofold: " to either surrender excess goods to assist trading partners who are in need or to trade goods for necessities that other trading partners have."
-Kyla Thomas
I learn something new about a different tribe or culture everyday. I had never heard of the Kula exchange but Im glad I learned what it is and what they have to do and what to trade. -castrele hoy
My favorite aspect of this article was the detail that the Kulu put into their jewelry and the meaning behind them. The white shells move counter clockwise, and the red move clockwise. And the fact that it's made to bring in goods which is such a great idea.
- Chyann Taylor
The main reason i got from this was The reason for the kula trade is twofold to either give up abundance products to help exchanging accomplices who are out of luck or to exchange merchandise for necessities that other exchanging accomplices have.
Hi,
I wonder if the type of shell that is exchanged has any meaning?
Joell Davis
With traditions of the shell I wonder how often it breaks? Also who receives them like who goes and gets them since most of the men exchange them. I know the shells I have come across when they are small and are very easy to break. I have a lot of questions about this tradition. Like what colors or sizes are considered more valuable. Also since these shells are valuable to them how would they fill if someone were to sell them as jewelry. Or an outsider who doesn’t follow their tradition walks around with it on just as a statement piece of jewelry?
The kula shells are very valuable, so while they do break it is over a great deal of time. Their value means they are treated with great care to avoid breaking them. Pictures of the shells are in the post, which can give you insights into which are chosen. As for the remaining questions you can learn more by taking Ant 311 next term. :)
The Kula exchange is something new to me. The Kula shells are important and valuable, it's interesting as to finding out about the red and white shells.
- Jada Watkins
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