The folks in my small town originally came from small villages, so they still go about life acting as though they live in a small village where they are related to everyone they see. Baby showers, weddings, funerals and parties are all open affairs where everyone who is considered family is invited. Yes, even up to three thousand people! (YIKES!)
Terminology
As in many cultures, affectionate terms for family members are used in everyday speech. Any woman who is older than me is considered my "mother". I can call any older woman “nenne” or “yiy” (mom in Pulaar and Wolof). This does not work the same way with older men. All of my host mom’s friends are considered my aunts. If you’re familiar with American southern culture, this remains a tradition to this day where some of my friends will call our friends moms, Aunt _____(first name.)
Any children belonging to a cousin, a sibling or a friend are considered one’s own children and can be addressed that way. This carries far beyond words, as all mothers are responsible for all children equally, including disciplining, feeding and bathing. For example, sometimes small children will wander into my family’s compound in the evening and my mother will insist they wash their hands and sit down to eat dinner. Only during or after the meal will she inquire about who their mom is or where their family compound is. She’ll usually say something like, “Oh of course, she’s my younger sister.” My mother has many “sisters.”
Any woman who marries can be referred to as wife by all of the married men in her family.
