tribe

A tribe is a form of social organization typically based on kinship and common descent, with shared identity, language, culture, and often territory. In anthropology, the term describes a level of social complexity between small, mobile bands and larger state-level societies. The word has a long history, borrowed from Latin tribus through Old French, and its precise meaning varies by region and discipline; some scholars prefer terms such as ethnic group, clan, or confederation to avoid colonial connotations.

Typical features include membership tied to lineage or kin groups, shared customs and norms, and a sense of collective belonging. Tribes may have organized leadership ranging from councils of elders to a chief or headman, and social life often centers on family sections, ceremonies, and customary laws. Economic practices vary widely and can include foraging, hunting, pastoralism, agriculture, or a combination thereof. Many tribes maintain defined territories or homelands and use a shared language or dialect, though languages and cultural practices can differ even within a single tribe.

In contemporary usage, tribal identity intersects with issues of self-determination, political recognition, and cultural preservation. The term can carry colonial-era or outsider perspectives, leading to preference for alternative descriptors such as indigenous group, ethnic group, or nation in some contexts. Proper understanding of a specific tribe typically requires attention to self-designation, historical development, and local social organization.