ABSTRACT
Traditional Songhoy society was founded on family unity, which was evidence of the unity and cohesion of the community as a whole. In traditional Songhoy society, the elder was responsible for everyone in the family. It was then the custom for the family elder to manage everything. Whatever was obtained, even from the forest, was left for his disposal, and even individual earnings were given to the elder to manage. The elder provided clothing and food for the wives and children in the village. Wives were not expected to ask their husbands for anything; they deferred to the family elder, as did their husbands. These well-known practices were the cornerstone of family life. Property, which embodied the original economic foundation, was undivided in the family. Collective interest was the major objective; private or individual interest was only an aspect of overall management of the family. Under no circumstances were individual interests the main objective. Contrary to what happens today, family members enabled their children to enjoy the fruits of their labor. These traditional African values and practices were commonplace all over Africa and cannot be claimed by any one group.
