Songhay - Kinship

As with the Zarma, the patrilineage and lineage segments are the most significant kinship groupings. Descent is also patrilineal. Unlike their Zarma cousins, however, the Songhay also recognize noble lineages, principally those whose apical ancestor is Askia Mohammed Toure ( maiga ), Sonni Ali Ber ( sohanci ), or Faran Maka Bote ( sorko ). The Songhay employ Iroquois cousin terminology, using bifurcate-merging terms.