matrimoiety

A matrimoiety is a kinship group that is part of a moiety system, where society is divided into two complementary parts. These moieties are often exogamous, meaning members must marry outside their own group, and trace descent unilineally, typically through the female line.1

Matrimoieties are more common than patrimoieties (which trace descent through the male line). While clans emphasize descent from a common ancestor and phratries are sets of three or more clans, moieties are always pairs and may or may not comprise clans. Moieties often have complementary roles and reciprocal duties within a society, contributing to social cohesion. Examples of societies with matrilineal moieties include the Asante of Ghana and the Minangkabau of Indonesia.123