Chapter 5 'African Families'

     In the United States, a tradtional family simply consists of father, mother, and children. We practice monogamy and that is what is normal to us. While monogamy is practiced in Africa as well, polygyny and bride wealth is also practiced, making family life a bit more complex. We may have different views on family life, but there is one major task of any family and that is to rear a successful younger generation. One other similarity that the book proclaims, is that the love and concern and the trust of the family members for one another is species-wide.




Polygyny is defined as the state or practice of having more than one wife or female mate at a time. While the definition is simply put, there is more to it than that. To someone who is unfamiliar with its practice, they may have an impression that it is something negative or biased. So much as to say that polygyny exploits women or is all about sex, but this is not true. One may also think that the man is the only benefactor in this practice, again this is not true. In tribal Africa the major concept of polygyny was that the male married more than one women depending on the bridal-price or bride-wealth he or his family could afford. The husband was obligated to provide farm for each wife equally. In exchange, the woman and her children were required to work and attend to the maintance on the farm. The material or the resources from the farm where brought together therefore providing an economic structure that benefited the family and the extended family.







In Africa, as well as anywhere else, the root of their kinship derives from their ancestors. Ancestors play a major role in the life of Africans. They are not just seen as an old family member who has passed away, but are seen with a great deal of respect. They are who have, in a sense, made the individual and other members of the family, who they are. They are called upon in times of dispair for their knowledge and wisdom and they are thought to be closer to God. While to us our ancestors are just a part of our personal history and we see it as just that, history, To tribal Africa, the ancestors played a major role in their present.