ABSTRACT
Wealth permeates Dinka law. It is central to livelihood and a means of satisfying claims by way of damages or fines as well as the law of contract. In this section we discuss Dinka concepts of wealth acquisition and rights of ownership, the institution of bride wealth, the law of inheritance, contractual arrangements relating to barter and sale, custody of livestock, and the offense of theft. Although the institution of blood wealth is one of the fundamental aspects of the interaction of wealth and the law and has much in common with bride wealth for purposes of perpetuation, it is better left to the section on well-being since it is primarily retributive rather than a means of wealth distribution.
