Marital Instability among the Kpelle: Towards a Theory of Epainogamy 1, 2

Abstract

FTER only a few months of field research among the Kpelle of Central Li-A beria, it became quite apparent that marital instability was not uncommon and that litigation over rights in women-"woman palaver"-was widespread. I t was only after a detailed analysis of the field data that the writer could arrive a t a hypothesis which it was felt could explain the relatively high incidence of marital instability among the Kpelle. However, for ease of communication in this paper the order will be reversed. The hypothesis which was ultimately formulated will be presented and, following this, the supporting data in the form of a description and analysis of marriage among the Kpelle.