Food Sharing among the Aka Hunter-Gatherers in Northeastern Congo

Abstract

This paper describes and analyzes food sharing among the Aka hunter-gatherers in northeastern Congo, based on quantitative data collected during long-term field research. First, the social connotation of the possession of food among the Aka is analyzed. Like in other hunter­ gatherer societies, Aka possession of food can be revealed only through the analysis of actual food sharing process. The ownership does not mean the exclusive right over the food, but indicates the responsibility for sharing it with others. The owners of food do not decide whether food is shared or not. Their concern about food sharing is only how to share it; which parts of food are given to whom. The concept of ownership produces the giver and receiver, thus connecting food sharing with the social in the Aka society. Second, informal nature of food sharing is described. The choice of receivers is not determined by the formal social such as kinship, but by ''face to face relationship created in the co-residential group. This may be one of the core characteristics of food sharing in the isolated small group.