The main focus of this paper, then, emphasizes the dynamic role of the extended family. This concern is expressed from two perspectives: (I) the relationship between the extended family and industrialization and urbanization and (2) the manner in which the individual participates in the kin network. Guided by the principle of pragmatism, it is concluded that interaction with kin groups varies with both situational and individual needs. Moreover, the traditional African family structure is flexible and adaptive. It is this inbuilt flexibility of the extended family and its ability to fulfill certain instrumental and/or expressive functions that explains its persistence in an industrialized urban setting.
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