Family Structure and Role

The family and home are God-given and highly important institutions in The Gambia. The family is involved from the beginning to the last days of one’s life, and this is one reason why children are still highly valued. The family comes to the help and support of its members when one plans to marry, when one’s marriage is in trouble, when one is bankrupt, jobless, sick, old, lonely, bereaved, childless, destitute, in prison, or any other problem. People are expected to be part and parcel of the family regardless of their status and location.

The breadwinners are expected to share with the extended family and must not feel too self-important so as to not associate or take advice from the family, especially the elders. But family splits and disintegration are gradually on the rise and this is partly caused by forces of modernization and globalization, such as industrialization, secular education, individualism, conflict, and abuse of privileges. Despite the pressures, Gambians still believe in family closeness and are endeavoring to keep together.