Avunculate

AVUNCULATE

In some matrilineal societies, the maternal uncle of a child takes the most important authoritative place in his life; on most occasions, he becomes the main guardian, even out weighing his father. The maternal uncle's position is the convention known as ‘avunculate.’ In such case, the maternal uncle enjoys a pre-eminent place in the child's life, he bears some special obligations towards his sister’s children, he enjoys a prior right over their loyalties and he is even obliged to transmit his property to his nephew. This kind of authority enjoyed by the maternal uncle is designated as avuncupotestiality. If the maternal uncle is responsible for rearing up his sister's children and keeping them in his residence, the condition is referred to as avunculocal residence.