Sex-Specific Genetic Data Supports One of Two Alternative Versions of the Foundation of the Ruling Dynasty of the Nso in Cameroon

Veeramah, Krishna R., Zeitlyn, David, Fanso, Verkijika G., Mendell, Nancy R., Connell, Bruce A., Weale, Michael E., Bradman, Neil, Thomas, Mark G. (2008) Sex-Specific Genetic Data Supports One of Two Alternative Versions of the Foundation of the Ruling Dynasty of the Nso in Cameroon. Current Anthropology, 49 (4). pp. 707-714. ISSN 0011-3204. (doi:10.1086/590119) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:11757)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/590119

Abstract

Sex-specific genetic data favor a specific variant of the oral history of the kingdom of Nso (a Grassfields city-state in Cameroon) in which the royal family traces its descent from a founding ancestress who married into an autochthonous hunter-gatherer group. The distributions of Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA variation in the Nso in general and in the ruling dynasty in particular are consistent with specific Nso marriage practices, suggesting strict conservation of the royal social class along agnatic lines. This study demonstrates the efficacy of using genetics to augment other sources of information (e. g., oral histories, archaeology, and linguistics) when seeking to recover the histories of African peoples.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1086/590119
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Depositing User:	D. Zeitlyn
Date Deposited:	24 Mar 2009 09:51 UTC
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2024 09:44 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/11757 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Zeitlyn, David.

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