ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the developments within the structure of villages. It describes the impact made by those who returned to their village of origin after relatively long periods of absence. The chapter discusses the wage migration and formal employment with reference to Mbala and the Line of Rail towns. It looks at Kowa's position vis-a-vis the job market in Mbala and examines the consequences of wage employment for relations on the land and will consider their meaning for social cohesion. The chapter shows the central Siuluta-Simpungwe alliance that the connection was not restricted to marriages within Kowa. It discusses the potentially cohesive quality of such clusters after presenting the genealogical evidence. The chapter examines the employment situation of Kowa men, residents as well as absentees. It explores Watson’s notion of a fixed village allegiance, and the nature of the structural links that give the Mambwe village its coherence and continuity.
