Some African cultures are matrilineal, the woman is the head of the family unit and her income considered her sole property which her husband or male partner does not have access or rights to.

Most of Africa is patrilineal, but in the matrilineal cultures, the woman is the decision maker in the home.

The kids also belong to the woman's family, not the man's.

I agree...there is this large tribe in Northern Africa, the Tuaregs I think. And the Akans in Ghana. But not sure about the kid's surname too.

tpiander:
The kids also belong to the woman's family, not the man's, although I'm not sure whose name they bear.

In Akan tradition, children bear father's name.
Its just the line of descent that goes the mother's way.
Apart from this, fathers have total control of their children.

There are two types of families among the Akans. These are the nuclear family (na-ne-agya abusua) and the extended family (abusuasanten). The nuclear family is made up of the mother, father and children. This family type is an adaptation from the western culture. This type of family is more recognized and take precedent over the extended family among educated and city dwellers perhaps due to economic constraints. The extended family is what comes to mind of any Akan at the mention of the word “family”. The extended family still plays a dominant role among the Akans especially in the rural areas as a result of the desire to keep particular lineages. Most Akans, with the exception of the Akuapims practice matrilineal inheritance. All children belong to their mother’s family (clan). An important feature of the extended family is that children do not inherit their father but uncles and aunts in the case of women. The Akans believe that a human being is formed from the blood of the mother and the spirit of the father. The child inherits courage, talents and wisdom from the father. The father and other members of the nuclear family do not belong to the same extended family. There are eight clans (extended families) in the Akan community. These are Asona, Agona, Aduana, ɔyoko, Asenee, Biretuo, koɔna and Asakyiri. Each clan is headed by a family head known as abusua pinyin who is both the spiritual and physical representative. Members of the same family are believed to trace their lineage to one ancestor. Members of the same clan do not marry each other; it is a taboo. Though there has been constitutional intervention (PNDC Law) to give children and mothers the right to inherit their father’s property, the matrilineal system still prevails. There is always close ties between the members of the extended family and the nuclear family. The Akans do not have a vocabulary for cousins but brothers and sisters. The Akans value mother-brother and mother-children relationships.

^ that's interesting.


very unusual for an African setting.

tpiander:
Some African cultures are matrilineal, the woman is the head of the family unit and her income considered her sole property which her husband or male partner does not have access or rights to.

Most of Africa is patrilineal, but in the matrilineal cultures, the woman is the decision maker in the home.

Where do you guys even get such info from. Do you understand and k ow the definition of matrilineal society is. It simply means that the lineage of the children are trace through the mother any other thing is the same as patrilineal society.

For instance a child born to a Ghanaian mother and Nigerian father will be Ghanaian in the eyes of a matrineal society.

Is all about lineage and has nothing to do with decision making or the child taking their mom's last name.

o.p can u pls provide examples of which tribes in africa that women are head of families.

JiggamanGh:


Where do you guys even get such info from. Do you understand and k ow the definition of matrilineal society is. It simply means that the lineage of the children are trace through the mother any other thing is the same as patrilineal society.

For instance a child born to a Ghanaian mother and Nigerian father will be Ghanaian in the eyes of a matrineal society.

Is all about lineage and has nothing to do with decision making or the child taking their mom's last name.

corrected.

like I said, most of Africa is patrilineal, and many people wouldn't be familiar with this culture.

Captainswag225:
o.p can u pls provide examples of which tribes in africa that women are head of families.

parts of north, central, south and west Africa.

tpiander:


parts of north, central, south and west Africa.

and its said that women take decisions in the family? Are u sure abt dis?

Captainswag225:
and its said that women take decisions in the family? Are u sure abt dis?

you can post corrections of whatever you consider inaccurate information on the thread.

like I pointed out, many people are not familiar with this type of social structure.

tpiander:


you can post corrections of whatever you consider inaccurate information on the thread.

like I pointed out, many people are not familiar with this type of social structure.

but u have to support ur claim with examples, thats all am asking for. Nutin else

Captainswag225:
and its said that women take decisions in the family? Are u sure abt dis?

So, I think what you're saying is in (some) matrilineal societies, the woman is not the decision maker but the family structure is only considered matrilineal because the woman's children solely inherit from her side of the family, not the man's.

Is that right? ie did I understand you correctly?