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| Picture: pexel.com |
The people of the Trobriand Islands have a barter exchange system called “Kula”. Each tribal chief game valuables to another tribal leader. The more he gives, the higher his social status will be. Interestingly, people who refuse a gift will be seen as arrogant.
This community culture has existed for a long time and is still embraced today. Polish anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski wrote these data in his ethnographic book Argonaut of the Western Pacific in 1922. In his research, he was amazed to see how the system of exchange between tribal chiefs was not based on nomila money but through jewelry in the form of necklaces made of shells. sea shells. Symbolically the gift is a political form so that each tribal chief gives his goods later when needed.
However, if one of the tribal chiefs refuses the gift, it is considered impolite. Because refusing a gift is the same as refusing to cooperate. This is of course very different from most people. Sometimes urban people see that refusing a gift is seen as a humble and generous person. The way the Trobrians view giving is very wise. They believe that giving is a deposit that we must later redeem by giving to the person who gave us before.
The Culture of Giving in Our Society
Currently, it turns out that this culture of giving can also be found in our daily society. Like when officials want to win inelections, local officials choose to give everything to the community when they campaign (although not all use thismethod).
In addition, we also give something to someone we like so that it is hoped that our gift will be reciprocated someday. Sogiving is very political, we always expect something after we give. This behavior makes us always think if we want togive something to someone. We sometimes always think about what benefits we will get after giving. Even when givingto beggars we also hope that we will go to heaven because we have helped beggars.
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