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The Family Assembly: The Baobab at the Heart of African Family Governance

Writer's picture: Tsitsi MutendiTsitsi Mutendi

By Tsitsi Mutendi: Family Governance Advisor, Multigenerational Wealth Architect , Legacy Builder
By Tsitsi Mutendi: Family Governance Advisor, Multigenerational Wealth Architect , Legacy Builder

In African culture, the baobab tree symbolizes strength, resilience, and community—a gathering place where stories are shared, decisions are made, and legacies are shaped. Similarly, the family assembly serves as the baobab of family governance. It is the space where voices are heard, values are affirmed, and collective vision is nurtured, ensuring the family’s continuity and cohesion across generations.


As African families navigate the complexities of wealth and governance, the family assembly emerges as a critical tool. It provides a structured yet inclusive forum that reflects the deeply rooted traditions of communal decision-making while addressing the modern challenges of multigenerational wealth.


The Family Assembly: An African Perspective

A family assembly is more than just a meeting; it is a forum where family members—whether actively involved in the family business or not—come together to discuss shared values, visions, and goals. Its African essence lies in its inclusivity, respect for generational wisdom, and ability to unify diverse voices.


In the African context, the family assembly reflects age-old practices of community dialogue, such as the indaba in Southern Africa or the baraza in East Africa, where consensus is sought through open discussion. These traditions are the foundation of African family governance, ensuring that every member, from elders to youth, feels heard and valued.


How a Family Assembly Operates

Just as the baobab tree provides shade for all who gather beneath it, the family assembly offers a space for every family member to participate. Its structure ensures that meetings are purposeful, inclusive, and aligned with the family’s long-term vision.

  1. Membership:

    • All adult family members are typically included, with some families extending participation to younger members as part of their education and integration into governance.

    • Inclusivity ensures that even family members living abroad or those not directly involved in family businesses remain connected.

  2. Meetings:

    • Family assemblies often coincide with cultural or family celebrations, such as reunions or ancestral ceremonies, to strengthen bonds and ensure attendance.

    • Technology like video conferencing is increasingly used to include members who are geographically distant.

  3. Agenda Setting:

    • Topics range from updates on the family business to discussions about shared values and philanthropy.

    • For African families, agenda items often include preserving cultural heritage, engaging in community upliftment, and addressing the unique challenges of operating across multiple countries.

  4. Decision-Making:

    • While the family assembly may not have formal decision-making authority, its input guides the family council or governance board.

    • Consensus-driven approaches resonate with African traditions of communal agreement.


The Role of the Family Assembly in African Family Governance

  1. Preserving Culture and Values:

    • African families often view wealth as more than financial—it encompasses traditions, relationships, and community responsibilities.

    • The family assembly provides a forum to document and pass down family stories, values, and cultural practices, ensuring they endure through generations.

  2. Educating the Next Generation:

    • Assemblies serve as “schools of governance,” teaching younger members about the family’s history, businesses, and responsibilities.

    • Special workshops or mentorship programs can prepare the youth for active roles in family governance.

  3. Strengthening Unity:

    • With families often spread across countries and continents, the assembly becomes a crucial tool for fostering connection and alignment.

    • It also offers a platform to address potential conflicts constructively, preventing rifts that could threaten the family’s legacy.

  4. Driving Collective Impact:

    • Many African families prioritize giving back to their communities. The assembly can coordinate philanthropic efforts, ensuring they align with the family’s values and create lasting impact.


Practical Tools for Building a Family Assembly

For African families, implementing a family assembly requires thoughtful planning and an understanding of both traditional values and modern needs.

  1. Create a Family Charter:

    • Document the family’s vision, mission, and governance structure, including the purpose and operation of the family assembly.

    • Use storytelling to connect the charter to the family’s history and values.

  2. Involve an Elder or Neutral Facilitator:

    • Elders often hold respected positions in African families and can guide discussions with wisdom and authority.

    • Alternatively, a neutral external facilitator can ensure balanced participation and mediate conflicts.

  3. Leverage Technology:

    • Use digital tools to include distant family members, maintain records, and share updates. Platforms like Zoom and family governance apps can enhance connectivity.

  4. Focus on Education:

    • Incorporate educational sessions on financial literacy, business management, and succession planning.

    • Involve younger members in interactive workshops to foster engagement.

  5. Celebrate Together:

    • Combine assemblies with cultural or family events, such as harvest festivals or weddings, to make participation more meaningful and enjoyable.

  6. Review and Adapt:

    • Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the assembly and adjust its structure to meet the family’s evolving needs.


Growing Stronger Together

Like the baobab tree, which thrives because its roots are deeply interconnected, the strength of a family lies in its ability to stay connected and aligned. The family assembly serves as the roots of governance, anchoring the family to its shared values and ensuring its branches—businesses, philanthropy, and individual aspirations—flourish.


The Legacy of the Assembly

In the rapidly evolving African wealth landscape, the family assembly is not just a governance tool—it is a reflection of the continent’s unique heritage and aspirations. By integrating the wisdom of the past with the needs of the future, African families can use this platform to preserve their legacies, nurture unity, and create wealth that benefits both their descendants and their communities.

The baobab grows slowly but lasts for centuries. With the family assembly at its heart, African families can ensure their legacies endure, standing tall as symbols of strength, resilience, and collective purpose.


Tsitsi Mutendi is a renowned expert in family governance, with a strong focus on African family firms. As the co-founder of African Family Firms Expert, she has dedicated her career to advising and consulting family businesses and family offices. Tsitsi is a skilled facilitator, speaker, and author, known for her insightful contributions to the field. In 2023-24, she serves as the President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa. Tsitsi is also the co-founder of Mutendi Montessori, a primary and secondary educational institution, and the founder of DanTs Smart, a technology and software development firm. With over 23 years as an entrepreneur. Tsitsi is a renowned multi-potentialite entrepreneur whose expertise has earned her recognition in leading publications such as Forbes Africa and Arise Africa, and she has been invited to speak on prestigious global stages, including the Athena40 panel. Her work can be found on www.tsitsimutendi.com www.nhakalegacy.com www.africanfamilyfirms.org and her trending podcast for families of wealthy and their advisors https://anchor.fm/enterprisingfamilies. You can Also get her book RAISING THE BAOBAB https://amzn.to/42cpFdL


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