Katlego Sekhu
A recent kinship study published in December in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA reveals that families worldwide are shrinking.
Using international demographic data, the study projected a 38% global decline in the number of living relatives for individuals aged 65 by 2095, compared to 1950.
Despite this trend, the role of cousins remains significant in many cultures. On Siz The World, the team and listeners shared their experiences and the unique dynamics of cousin relationships.
Sizwe Dhlomo highlighted the cultural differences in how cousins are perceived. “In Black culture, your cousins are everywhere. So much so that they are considered immediate family. You refer to your cousins as brothers and sisters,” he said.
“In contrast, in white culture, there’s a clear distinction between immediate and extended family. For example, if I meet someone with the same surname, I don’t need to ask—I already consider them family.”
Mfundo Mabalane shared her personal story, revealing that she was raised alongside her cousin-brother.
“We grew up together, attended the same school, and were raised by our grandmother. My father and his brother had children very young, so we were brought up by their mother,” she explained.
“At school, because we shared the same surname, everyone knew us as brother and sister. It was only later, after we got married, that people discovered we were actually cousins.”
Listen to the full conversation on the podcast.
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