Handout

Countries and Their Cultures: Songhay Marriage and Family

Curated by ACT

The Songhay are the fourth-largest ethnic group in Niger, West Africa. There are also considerable Songhay populations in Mali and Benin. They are closely related culturally to the Zarma. The Songhay are spread over a large area of eastern Mali, western Niger, and northern Benin. Polygyny is highly valued among the Songhay, as it is among the Zarma, but the great percentage of Songhay households are monogamous -- primarily for economic reasons. Among Songhay nobles, firstborn sons are pressured to marry their parallel cousins (father's brother's daughters), in order to maintain the purity of the noble lineage.

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Classroom Considerations
  • Knovation Readability Score: 3 (1 low difficulty, 5 high difficulty)
  • The intended use for this resource is Instructional