Studies on African Families: In Hindsight

Abstract

The family both in Africa generally and in specific African countries remains underresearched. What is evident from this review of studies published in the Journal of Comparative Family Studies for the selected period is that it is a rich resource for topics and themes that affect varied aspects of the family—some of which have not been previously closely considered. Immense possibilities for research in a number branches of science are open in Africa. The institution of the family in Africa is no exception. The review presented here provides an insight into how the family on the continent functions in divergent forms. It highlights how the family has been transforming under the influence of certain key variables, and the contradictions that exist among different ethnic groups on the continent. Additionally, the studies offer opportunities for scholars around the world to (re)examine some of the pertinent issues that would contribute to both theoretical and empirical knowledge about the family.