The descent approach to the study of kinship emerged as a dominant theoretical framework in early twentieth-century social anthropology, particularly through the works of scholars such as A.R. Radcliffe-Brown, E.E. Evans-Pritchard, and Meyer Fortes. It emphasizes the significance of unilineal descent groups—either patrilineal or matrilineal—as the fundamental building blocks of social organization in so-called “segmentary” societies. According to this perspective, kinship is primarily structured through rules of descent that trace ancestry from a common ancestor, thereby forming corporate groups that regulate property rights, political authority, inheritance, and social identity. The central premise of the descent approach is that kinship systems are not merely networks of interpersonal relations but institutional frameworks that organize society. In many African societies studied by British structural-functionalists, descent groups were viewed as corporate entities with collective responsibilities and rights. For example, among the Nuer and the Tallensi, lineage membership determined access to land, cattle, ritual offices, and political alliances. Descent groups functioned as enduring units that persisted beyond the lives of individual members, ensuring social continuity and stability. The approach thus linked kinship with the maintenance of social order, portraying descent as the structural principle underlying social cohesion. A major strength of the descent approach lies in its systematic analysis of lineage systems and its ability to explain the integration of political, economic, and religious life within kinship structures. By highlighting the corporate nature of descent