FAMILY STRUCTURE / ROLES

GRANDFATHER

He is the head of the family, he gives advice to the family and he tries to settle disputes. He may not engage in day-to-day running of the compound because he might be too old to bring food or cash for the family, but he can act as a baby-sitter. The Grandfather plays with and takes care of the children while the parents are out, especially during the rainy season. He often represents the clan to the council of wise men. He spends most of his time under the palaver tree discussing village matters.

 GRANDMOTHER

Next to the Grandfather, the Grandmother takes care of the family in affairs such as ceremonies. She tells stories to her grandchildren and babysits. Sometimes the Grandmother may also act as traditional birth attendant, midwife or health advisor. She also prepares dead women for burial and acts as female supervisor in ceremonies and communal works.

 FATHER

He carries out his father's orders. He is responsible for bringing food, building houses, repairing fences, etc. He teaches his boys how to farm and sends them to circumcision camps. He takes care of his parents financially and materially. He arranges marriages for his children in consultation with his parents. In the absence of his father, he acts as the head of the compound.

 MOTHER

Next to the Father, the Mother is responsible for all the domestic chores. She is responsible for the education of her children and guides her daughters as to whom they should marry. She works in the fields and vegetable gardens and can play an important role in certain ceremonies. She trains her daughters to be good housewives.

 SON

The Son helps his parents on the fields and takes care of all domestic animals if there are any. He also collects firewood for cooking. He brings wives to help his parents and families.

 DAUGHTER

The Daughter helps her mothers with domestic chores and helps in the fields. She supports her brothers in ceremonies.

 UNCLE (MATERNAL)

The Maternal Uncle, or nijaay in Wolof, often helps to settle family disputes. He may also be expected to help his sisters in times of need when the parents are no longer able. Among many groups in Senegal, a prefered marriage for a man is to his nijaay's daughter.

 AUNT (PATERNAL/MATERNAL)

The Maternal Aunt helps in preparing ceremonies and settling disputes. She can give advice to the neices and nephews when they are married. Young women usually refer to their paternal aunts for sex-related advice. The Maternal Aunt is generally the only person admitted in the nuptial room during her niece's honeymoon.

 UNCLE (PATERNAL/JUNIOR FATHER)

Acts in the absence of his brother and can inherit his brother's wives when he dies if he doesn't want them to leave the compound (practice known as levirat). He helps his brother in the up-bringing of his children and act as mediator for his brothers in working out any problems in the compound. In most ethnic groups, it is the Paternal Uncle who is responsible for giving the hand of his nieces in marriage. The suitor's parents are therefore referred to him when first approaching the father.

In rural areas, men and women generally have separate rooms or huts in the compound. Men normally reside in the front of the compound. In the urban setting the immediate family lives in one house. In rural areas the compound houses several "families". The head of the family has his own hut. The wives who, depending on the wealth of the head, either have their own hut or share a hut, take turns to visit the husband. Sons who are married bring in their wives to the family compound. Children usually sleep in the women's hut, but sometimes the oldest ones have a separate hut.

In urban areas, each wife has her own room or her own house, and the husband visits them in turns. Boys share a room and so do girls in the house. Most of the time you will find other relatives (nephews, nieces, namesakes/godchildren, etc.) also living in the house. All of those people including step-brothers and sisters call each other "brothers" and "sisters".

 

From ACI
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