John Tyler - Student's Choice - Communitas in African Society

Communitas is essentially an unstructured community where all the people are equal.  Additionally, communitas provides a sort of antistructure, which Victor Turner mentions in his book image and pilgrimage.  This anthropological use of the word points to the reality of togetherness, comradeship, and social equality found in communitas.  Also, people are all in this state of luminality, between the stages of ritual.

In my ancient and medieval philosophy class we discussed the differences between the Western view of community vs. the African view of community.  Interestingly enough, African communities seem to display very similar qualities in comparison to a hiking communitas.  In African society, their view of man is in reference to the environing community.  They would say, “I am because we are” symbolizing their intimate connection and association to one another.  African communities display a high degree of collectiveness, where each individual is valued.  Also, their groups are formed organically and not forced, such as in a hiking community.  I just thought this was an interesting correlation.