Droit et Cultures (Mar 2017)
Dynamiques de transformation familiale en Afrique subsaharienne et au sein des diasporas présentes en France
Abstract
Joint families in Sub Saharan Africa have been largely studied by researchers. They are organised according different kinds of filiations and localisations. Their internal hierarchy is built on the principle of seniority and they obey to precise rules of wedding. However they began to change after 2nd World War. The newly independent African States thought they will disappear and consequently they promote family codes adapted to nuclear households corresponding to the western model considered as a symbol of modernity and the result of development. Indeed the deep changes lived by Africa during the last decades: rural depopulation, urbanisation, political and economic crisis have produced a large heterogeneity of kinship organisation. One has observed the development of single parent households and free cohabitation. Large families did not disappear but they change deeply trying to adapt them to the new surroundings. Sub Saharan families began to immigrate in France during the 1990 and 2000 years. Their evolution is relatively similar to the evolution observed in Africa. However, researchers perceived some important differences linked to the dominant kinship models existing in the countries of origin and to the concrete conditions of life in France. Finally they notice a common trend to matrifocality.
