Huli+Kinship

__**Huli Kinship and Marriage**__ The Huli people have very close ties within their kin. In a typical Huli family, one would refer to his brothers, sisters, half- brothers, half-sisters, and parallel cousins as "brothers" and "sisters." A Huli is typically as close to his/her half-siblings and cousins as he/she is with their brothers and sisters. Huli siblings who are of the opposite sex typically call each other "**mbalini**." Huli siblings who are female refer to each other as "**hagabuni**." Male siblings call each other "**hamene**." A chile will refer to his father and anyone who his father may call hamane as "**aba**." A child will also refer to his mother and anyone who his mother may refer to as hagabuni as " **ãija**." A paternal uncle will refer to/be referred by their nieces and nephews as "**ajane**." A maternal uncle will refer to/be referred to by their nieces and nephews as "**ama**." Kinship ties within the Huli people are much closer than that of the typical american family. A Huli member is much closer with a larger number their family members than a typical american is.
 * Kinship:**

In Huli marriage customs, a man may take as many wives as he pleases, although A woman may only be married to one man at a time. Huli marriages are largely based on hereditary structures as well as kinships. Hulis are discouraged from marrying close cognates, making it common for marriages to extend outside the clan and even the language barriers. Arranged marriages as well as freely chosen marriages are both common of Huli people. In the event of an arranged marriage, the bride is usually picked by his close kin or by the mans subclan. The marriage of a man and woman is instituted with a **wariabu** (bride wealth). The wariabu is given to the bride's kin from the groom's kin. A wariabu is commonly made in a gift of up to thirty pigs. In Huli culture, divorce is not uncommon or frowned upon. In the event of a divorce, the wariabu is to be returned to the grooms kin. The responsibilities of a bride are to raise the children, cultivate the garden, as well as to take care of the pigs. A groom has the right to choose where his bride(s) live as well as build her a house and provide her with land for gardening. Since Huli bride(s) and groom do not live under the same roof, the children will live with the mother. Boys typically live with their mothers until they are about ten years old, at which point they move to live with their father.
 * Marriage:**

A picture of a Huli family: :

Another Huli family photo of a man with multiple brides: