ABSTRACT
As a social system the house-based structure provides both the physical and social space for peoples' mobilisation and political interaction. In the house-based social structure, constructing social categories and groups has multiple effects and functions. Indeed, the distribution of the meat, which is the epic act outlining the structure of social categories and property relations, takes place on the terrace of the dead elder. Social status and merits are determined by knowing how to be a good hoe farmer, and this entails more than the efficient agricultural production of food. As a male group representing the structure of the house community, the some do not participate any further in the ritual process in elaborating how social categories are formed and property relations maintained. The system of social categories continuously regenerates itself because individuals are always identifying themselves with the names assigned to their category.
