Beyond Biological Family Ties: Unpacking the Complexities of African Family Systems

The traditional notion of family in Africa has mainly been influenced by Western ideologies, which emphasise biological ties and nuclear family structures. However, African family systems are complex and diverse, encompassing a wide range of relationships and kinship ties that extend beyond biological family ties. This qualitative desktop and critical discourse analysis study unpacked the complexities of African family systems, exploring how they are constructed, negotiated, and represented in various socio-cultural contexts. Drawing on a critical discourse analysis of existing literature and cultural texts, this study examined how historical, cultural, and socio-economic factors shape African family systems. The study reveals that a complex web of relationships, including extended family ties, communal living arrangements, and spiritual kinship bonds, characterises African family systems. These relationships are often negotiated and constructed through cultural practices, traditions, and social norms. The study’s findings challenge the dominant Western notion of family and highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of African family systems. The study recommends that policymakers, practitioners, and scholars adopt a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to learning and supporting African family systems, one that recognises and values the diversity and complexity of these systems.