Although marriages are prohibited between close relatives out to third cousins, some cousin marriages still occur, but with the proviso that such marriages may not be dissolved by divorce. Despite a slight patrilineal bias, kinship is reckoned bilaterally, with relations traced as widely as possible through both consanguineal and affinal ties. Kin terms used for the first ascending generation are used for members of the third ascending generation as well. In contrast, members of the second and fourth ascending generations are all lumped together under a single kin term. The village is the major unit of territorial organization for the Lozi.
Villagers tend to be related through male lines, but there are no exclusive residence rules.
The village is a corporate unit. Rights to use village lands and fishing sites depend on residence within the village. Land arrangements and village affairs are handled by the village headman. Selection to headmanship ideally follows patrilineal lines, but this ideal is frequently overridden if another man is thought to be more capable. Although village sites persist over time, there is a great deal of flux in village population.