The Songhai family is patriarchal. The father has the last word on all subjects. He has the say over clothing choices for the family, travel and the use of money. In marriage the husband takes the place of the wife's father, and she is obligated to obey. An older male is never addressed by name; the spoken title of respect is "father" (Baaba).
Who has the authority in the family? Who makes decisions? How? When? Why?
The Father or male in the family has the authority in the house. Age is also a factor. If an older father, his sons and each of their families live in the same house, the father is the one that makes the decisions for the household. Each one of his sons makes the decisions for his own family, but respect is given to the opinions of the older father. It is said that the father is always your father no matter what his age. In the absence of a father, the authority falls to the eldest son or to the eldest brother of the father. The mother can make some of the unimportant decisions for the family in the absence of the father, but for permission to marry or the disposal of estates, the oldest brother of the father is in charge in the absence of the father.