The Diola live in clans, and the clan is the most important aspect of their lives. The people are fiercely loyal to their clans, defending them proudly. They express their history and devotion through the oral traditions of dance and storytelling. Men and women live in separate houses made of mud or cement the men in round houses and the women in rectangular ones. The father is the head of the family, and inheritances are passed down from fathers to their sons.
Older males possess the most power and influence.
In addition, nearly half of the population is under the age 15. Therefore, the Diola have great respect the elderly, especially if a man is an Islamic scholar. The Diola began settling in towns during the 1500's. There, they often lived in special separate areas, a practice that is still common today. The word diola is often used to describe all Muslim merchants, whatever their ethnic or cultural background.