Double descent affiliates an individual with a group of kin who are related to him/her at the same time through both his/her father and mother including only the patrilineal kin of his/her father and the matrilineal kin of his/her mother, A double descent system is thus a discrete combination of unilineal affiliation.
The people in a double descent system reckon patrilineal descent for certain purposes and matrilineal descent for certain other purposes, this feature may be explained through two illustrations, The Ashanti tribe of west Coast Africa, and the Yako tribes of Nigeria have double descent system.
Among the Ashanti, the matriline determines residence (i.e. matrilocality), and it is the matrilineal group which is the land-owning unit. The political organization also has its roots here. On the other hand, for the people it is the patri-line which is the source of their spirit or soul. This is where the religious organization has its base. Thus while the matrilineal group is concerned with the secular sphere, the patrilineal group is concerned with the religious sphere.
Among the Yako, it is the patri-line that determines residence (i.e., patrilocality). The land resources are managed by the patri-group, and so the immovable property is transmitted through the patri-line. Further, the political domain originates in the patri-group with the chieftaincy being transmitted through the patri-line. On the other hand, movable property in the form of cattle etc. is transmitted in the matri-line. More importantly, the religious domain is vested with the matri-group. Priesthood is inherited in the matri-line. A priest trains his sister’s son to take over his job, such that priesthood gets transmitted in the female line itself. Thus, while the patrilineal group is concerned with the secular sphere, the matrilineal group is concerned with the religious sphere.
Therefore, it becomes clear that in a Double Descent system, works on the basis of distribution of rights and responsibilities between the two unilineal descent groups. Conflict between the two unilineal descent groups is thus avoided by conferring equal importance to both the groups.
As in the case of Sumi Nagas of Nagaland, which is basically a patrilineal society during marriage Achiku a traditional necklace is handed down from mother to daughter and moves in the same line. This necklace if acquired from the market has no value but is treasured as a family heirloom if passed on from mother to daughter .
