Final answer:
Many African societies were matrilineal, meaning lineage and inheritance were traced through the mother's side. Matrilineal descent is known to provide certainty of descent and is contrasted with patrilineal descent where lineage is traced through the father.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many African societies were matrilineal, meaning descent and inheritance were traced through the mother. In these societies, both males and females trace their lineage through their mothers, grandmothers, and so on. This system ensures that clan affiliation and descent are certain, as maternity is a fact, while paternity can sometimes be uncertain. Furthermore, while leadership might still reside with senior men, it is often the woman's brother or mother's brother who exerts influence over family resources and maintains family discipline.
Similar systems of matrilineal descent are commonly found among Native American tribes, such as the Crow and Cherokee, and were also present historically among various indigenous peoples of North America and Southeastern cultures. In contrast, patrilineal descent traces lineage through male ancestors, which is seen in societies like rural China and India, where the family surname and inheritance pass through the male line.