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"A WAY FOR US TO START SPENDING TIME TOGETHER": DESCRIPTION OF A FAMILY XITIKI IN THE CITY OF MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

Abstract

In this paper, I present the xitiki, known as an endogenous practice of savings and rotating credit found in the city of Maputo, Mozambique. In order to show that this is a practice that goes beyond its economic characteristic - much emphasized in a large part of the existing studies - I describe in detail the meetings of a family xitiki, showing the different meanings that people attribute to the practice and also showing how it can be perceived as a means of sociability, where a series of elements that are shared connect participants to one another, namely money, affections, food, neighborhood relations, miscellaneous information, advice and venting.

Keywords:
Xitiki; savings and rotating credit; reunions; sociability; family

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