Yalunka People - Costume and Culture

Costume and Culture

The Yalunka(Jallonke) prefer to live in large settlements and villages as opposed to small ones. Many of the large settlements have remained in their current locations since the 18th century. The Yalunka society is basically patriarchal, which means that the family households are headed by the men. A household typically consists of a man, his wife or wives, and their unmarried children. The family is the major social unit for the Yalunka. Extended households, which consist of two or more married men and their families, may also adjoin the nuclear family, forming an extended family compound. The Yalunka live in round huts that have brick walls and cone-shaped, straw-thatched roofs. Within the village or settlement, the huts are grouped in compounds around a courtyard and are surrounded by a fence.

Polygyny (having multiple wives) is a common practice among the Yalunka. Marriages among Yalunka are traditionally arranged. According to Islamic law, a man may have up to four wives. However, his first wife has authority over any subsequent wives. The husband has complete control over his wives and is responsible for feeding and clothing them. He also helps the wives' parents when necessary. The wives' duties include maintaining the house, preparing the meals, washing the clothes, and helping with the farm work. When a man dies, one of his brothers traditionally marries his wife or wives so that the children remain in the family.