This group or his family is composed of his parents, uncles, cousins, and other relatives. Often it is the oldest male in a descent group who settles disputes among the members. A man's relatives can also be relied upon when he needs help in his work and they will come to his aid if he is ill or when he gets too old to care for himself. Thus when a man marries it is not an individual affair. He is bringing into the family a woman who is part of another descent group but who will, by bearing children, enrich his group.
Marriage is then a contract between two families.
To show his good faith and to indicate that he will treat his wife well, a man gives bridewealth to his fiancee's family. It is token compensation to them for the loss of a daughter. Should the wife leave him, the husband gets the brideprice back. The exchange, consequently, gives both families an interest in keeping the marriage intact. A descent group, in turn, cannot survive without children.