• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.45
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• pp.269-293
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• 2016

This research studies the characteristics of the family systems of traditional societies in Black Africa. For this purpose, this study has chosen three subtopics: the distinctive features of traditional societies, marriage customs (polygamy and polyandry), and the societal features of patriarchal and matriarchal societies. First, we analyze men's and women's roles, ownership and management of the land, dowry, and social values of livestock as the distinctive features that support the family system in traditional Black African societies. These elements play an important role in increasing the number of family members. Next we analyze marriage customs-polygamy and polyandry-which increase the number of family members, on the one hand, and secure the labor force, on the other hand. Most traditional societies in Black Africa prectice polygamy. However, the $Bashil{\acute{e}}l{\acute{e}}$ and Bahima prectice polyandry. Polygamy in traditional societies in Black Africa is based on the traditional social customs that display the authority and dignity of the family head, who has control over all family members in both patrilineal and matrilineal societies. The authority and dignity of the family head are used to keep and increase the number of family members, that is, to secure the community firmly. Finally, most traditional societies are patrilineal. However, matrilineal societies are prevalent in the so-called Matrilineal Belt, which term refers to the savanna regions where Bantu peoples reside, that is, the coastal regions from the Angolan coast, bordering the Atlantic, to the Tanzanian and Mozambique coasts that border the Indian Ocean. These societies trace descent through the maternal bloodline. The traditional family system in Black Africa is based on economic social, and political factors, as well as on the community spirit of the members, which has resulted from the choices made to increase the prosperity and well-being of the people.