Inanthropology, thematrilineal belt is an area in Africa south of the equator centered in south-central Africa wherematrilineality is predominant. The matrilineal belt runs diagonally from theAtlantic to theIndian ocean, crossingAngola,Zambia,Malawi andMozambique. The belt is linked tohorticultural household economics, andBantu groups that have embracedpastoralism have tended to lose matrilinearity.[1]
Hypotheses linking the matrilineal belt to a supposed matrilinealBantu expansion have been rejected as lacking evidence.[2]