抄録
This paper describes and analyzes food sharing among the Aka hunter-gatherers in northeastern Congo, based on quantitative data collected during long-term field research. First, the social connotation of the “possession” of food among the Aka is analyzed. Like in other hunter-gatherer societies, Aka “possession” of food can be revealed only through the analysis of actual food sharing process. The “ownership” does not mean the exclusive right over the food, but indicates the right to perform the sharing. The “owners” of food have little room to decide whether food is shared or not. Their main concern about food sharing is how to share it; which parts of food are given to whom. The concept of “ownership” produces the “giver” and “receiver, ” thus connecting food sharing with the social relationship in the Aka society. Second, informal nature of food sharing is described. Fluidity is one of the characteristics of the residential group of the Aka. As camp size and composition vary, the owners change their choice of who the receivers of food are. This choice is not determined by the formal social relationship such as kinship, but by “face-to-face” relationship created in the residential group. This may be one of the core characteristics of food sharing in isolated small group.
