Cultures that are small and secluded from the rest of a country tend to die off after a period of time. Sometimes they are influenced by neighboring countries to change their ways. Often times they are forced out of their own country. Many times they are forced to adapt to the ways of life of the people of the country the reside in. All of these possible outcomes could make a culture go extinct. So how does the Mehri culture still thrive and hold on to it's cultural beliefs, values and traditions? They may be influenced by their neighbors in a small way, but they still remain close to their old traditions, beliefs and values.
Mehri people live in small tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. According to an Oxford University study Mehri people want independence and wish the Mehri people could have an independent state. Although they feel this way, they do not do much to bother the citizens of the countries they reside in. They also share some of the same religious beliefs as the countries that they live, so there is little conflict between them and the rest of the country. They seclude themselves into small tribes but they are however a part of the same culture.
Although they are parts of different tribes they practice the same cultural traditions which bind them together. Mehri's used to practice arranged marriages by using the dowry method, but that way of life is slowly diminishing. Now, more Mehri people are choosing their own spouse. Although they are beginning to chose their own spouses, they only marry people from the same tribe as them. This practice is called endogamy.
Men are favored in the Mehri culture. Boys inherit land and animals from the elder males in their family, whereas girls don't inherit anything usually. The Mehri's social life is very important to them. The men have meals together as a tribe. Since there is not a supply of wood where they live to make tables, they have always sat on the floor when they eat. Eating on the floor has now become an important tradition to them.
Although they are influenced slightly by learning to speak Arabic, as a majority they have stuck to their cultural beliefs, values, traditions and ways of life. They still practice endogamy, pass down inheritances to boys in their tribe, share meal time as a tribe, and also practice many other cultural traditions as they always have. The Mehri culture is a strong culture and is one that will hopefully survive in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment