Final answer:
In traditional African societies, husbands are primarily responsible for the proper treatment of their (1) wives and (2) children, as they hold significant authority and decision-making power within the family hierarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In traditional African societies, the responsibility of a husband toward the proper treatment of his family is quite significant and embedded within the society's hierarchical structure. The husband is directly responsible for the welfare and proper treatment of his wives and children. In many African cultures, a husband's status and wealth can be signified by the number of wives and children he has, implying a considerable duty to provide for and protect them. As the paterfamilias or male head of the household, the husband exercises control and offers guidance, often holding the power to make decisions on family resources and the behavior of family members.
Additionally, within some African communities, aspects such as inheritance and family leadership might be managed through a matrilineal system, which, while assigning certain decision-making roles to maternal uncles or brothers for women, still preserves authority with senior men.