In this article, an attempt is made to define the African family as it relates to reproduction. A review of the theoretical discussions and empirical studies indicates that none of the earlier conceptualizations of family structure is adequate enough for analyzing the relationship between family structure and fertility. It is suggested that three major dimensions, social structure, social-psychology and economics, underlie the African family structure and that their full understanding is essential to a meaningful analysis of the role of kinship networks in Africa's population growth. Indeed, the issues involved in the study of the fertility of African, especially rural, women may not be fully understood until the ramifications of the African family and kinship networks are fully understood and adequately conceptualized.
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