East African family life is interpreted here through a Hallowell frame of reference: viewing individual in society in terms of the psychological perspective which his culture made for him and which was integral focus of his activities. This presentation of traditional heritage supports writings of Okot p-Bitek on genuineness of traditional cultural values and presence of a common regional culture. The focus is on social organization of womens work and childrens place in society which has been most affected by delocalization (the influences of modernization blended with persistence of tradition and new cultural forms). Marriage and childhood are understood in economic context of families and clans controlling access to land which husband allocates to each wife. Women in pre-colonial Bukusu economy had considerable authority. The modern monetary economy and Westernized educational system which gave greater access to men was even more unfavorable to women than pre-modern Abaluyia gender relations. The delocalization process is illustrated in two examples from Uganda (the Bagandan culture) and from Kenya (villages in Matunda area of western region). 63.1% of Abaluyia households in Kenya were extended families. Traditional cultural traits of sociability and communalism have persisted in modern order and extended family continue to provide significant support. The cultural context is favorable to children. Rugged individualism transported from West is more conducive to child abuse. Modernism brought a dictator calls for a return to days of kingship and inability of both governments to cope with massive social problems such as child abandonment adolescent pregnancy and crime.
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A 1990 study studied this question.