The unadulterated African family went beyond the nucleus and extended family. The family was constituted of the entire community. They lived with a culture that protected the integrity of the entire community. The error of one person was seen as the error of the entire community and the community rose to correct it.  From the name of a person you could trace where he or she came from and a disgrace of him was a disgrace to the entire family or community. The community worked to protect its members. Childcare was the responsibility of the entire community.

People lived with a clear sense of responsibility for one another and for the community. Night times were opportunities for gathering and for the integration of the family through activities like story telling and dancing. There were no cousins, half brothers, half sisters or step fathers etc. Your father’s sister was considered your ‘father’ (siwaa). House helps and tenants were integrated into the family

Marriages were natural ingredients for consolidating family unity. They were not contracted just by the man and woman. Marriages brought four families together that is the maternal and paternal families of both parties entering into the marriage. Before marriage the families of both the man and the woman would send spies to investigate the family character of the ‘would be’ in-laws or the community they came from. The premium was on untainted character. They cherished honesty and truthfulness and the pooling together of resources.

They respected their ancestors and what they stood for. Your character is what makes you a family member.

In this culture, orphans were not orphaned and the family took responsibility for the honourable burial of the dead.

Ceremonies, rituals and festivals were revered institutions for fostering family unity. Rituals like ‘Dipo’ were a means of preserving the chastity of the youth until they reached maturity. These and many other cultural practices and festivals encouraged unity which is the key to world peace.