[The plural family in a rural African environment. An example of plantation economy: the Dayes plateau in Southwest Togo].

"Study of the transition to a plantation economy in populations on the Dayes plateau (SW Togo) shows the progressively preponderant role of the domestic group. Responsibility for production, for continuity of the labour force and for the demographic continuity of groups which used to be held by lineal authorities is now exercised at [the] domestic unit level. Although this results in greater autonomy for women, it also results in radical changes in the marriage rate. The loss of control of lineal structures over marriages appears to have led to increasing conjugal instability to link in particular with the number of unmarried couples. The authors carry out a comparative study of autochthonous groups (Ahlon and Ewe) and an immigrant group (Kabye) and study the consequences of this situation with regard to both demography and family structures. They show that autochthonous and immigrant groups are interdependent in the forming of demographic structures and report that there are many family models, essentially in the autochthonous population." (SUMMARY IN ENG)