Clans or Sibs
What you know or may not know about family nature in Africa
The clan is an extension of the extended family. In this type of family, kinship alone, rather than kinship and residence, is the determining factor of family affiliation. Members may live in different communities of in different parts of the country. Clans are of two types: patrilineal (tracing one’s decent to one’s father. The individual belongs to the father’s clan) and matrilineal (tracing one’s descent through one’s mother. The individuals belong to the mother’s clan). Clans are not affected by either marriage or residence nor is their instance of dual clan membership. Clans are often very large groupings that include individuals who may not actually come in contact with one another. Clans essentially includes ones relatives, either near or far, from the same community. Clans are held together by common history.
let us use an individual from a particular area in Ilaje, Ondo State, Nigeria, as an example. His or her clan’s people will be all those who can trace their lineage to the same ancestors in that area or compound. Among the Yorubas, clan members are referred to as Molebi or Idile (meaning compound). Those who cannot trace their origins to these common ancestors are referred to as strangers.
