Social Status and Egalitarianism in Non-Lineage-Based, Agrarian Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Analysis of Funeral Attendance

Abigail Barr and Mattea Stein

Economic Development and Cultural Change, 2025, vol. 73, issue 3, 1527 - 1557

Abstract: This paper explores the role of social status in relationships between richer and poorer households in non-lineage-based, agrarian communities by analyzing who goes to whose funerals in six resettled Zimbabwean villages. Funerals allow social status to be observed because nonattendance is a sign of disrespect. We find that the richer a household hosting a funeral, the less likely heads of neighboring households were to attend. This is consistent with the existence of an egalitarian norm that was being violated, to some degree, by the richer households. This norm is stronger among kin but also holds for non-kin. An analysis of assistance provision offers no evidence that some richer households complied with the norm and eschewed punishment. While the egalitarian norm appears weak (punishment for norm violation was exerted but compliance did not follow), patron-client relationships appear not to have emerged in its place.

Date: 2025
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