Leading a There is an important distinction to be made between formal and
 informal group meetings. The former are "business" meetings and
Discussion are bound by set procedures for the conduct and recording of what
 happens. The latter are less rigid in the way discussion takes place;
 nevertheless, there is no reason why they should be at all casual in
 their approach.
 When groups are operating according to standardized committee
 procedures, many of the problems encountered in groupwork are
 avoided. The "parliamentary" rules tend to override other custom-
 ary factors and considerations. But the rigid committee approach
 is rarely effective in achieving community development or educa-
 tional purposes. When the business is clear-cut and the emphasis
 is on making majority decisions, then the conventional, formal
 committee approach is appropriate. But when the concern is more
 to explore ideas, reach understanding of issues or to solve complex
 problems, then more flexible groupwork methods need to be used.
 However, the less rigid the rules of conduct the more the group will
 tend to behave according to traditional or habitual patterns. The
 more important it becomes for a group facilitator to be aware of and
 sensitive to these customary influences.
 So, let us review some of the characteristics of groups in traditional
 societies.

 EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR IN GROUPS
 Group membership is a vital factor in African culture. Through the
 whole span of his life an individual is identified as a member of an
 age group as well as a member of a particular family or clan.
 Whenever an important event occurs-an initiation, wedding, or
 funeral-an individual participates in the event as a member of his
 age group. An individual can always identify himself with groups
 determined by age, family or location. Membership implies power-
 ful obligations to work together in times of both celebration and
 crisis.
 The traditional grouping of individuals still persists for a wide
 range of purposes: like the settling of interpersonal or family
 disputes, the planning and organizing of community projects, the
 initiation of the young in terms of family responsibilities and the
 supporting of dependent community members.
 Therefore, people in rural societies still have powerful incentives
 for joining and participating in groups. The habit of group member-


Chapter 9