Given the basically non-industrial background of African societies, the nature of everyday life on that continent is such that it binds an individual into the network of his social relations, so that these pre dominate over other possible sources of felt responsibility. Generalizations about an entire continent are extremely difficult; yet study and research experience in West Africa, as well as frequent contacts with African students in the United States and Canada over the past four to five years, has brought me to this conclusion. Indeed, in most cases with which I am familiar, the other possible sources, such as the traditional values, or the personality of the individual tend to buttress this basic quality the responsibility that each person feels to other persons. We in Western culture, with its individualism and highly industrialized production, are also bound by ties of felt obligation and responsibility to others such as kinsfolk, friends, and our membership in various occupational and voluntary organizations. However, we also have age-old traditions that tend to bind us as individuals to ideals which often contradict our social responsibilities to such an extent that it is considered a noble thing to reject social pressures for the sake of moral principles. Although it has been widely reported by anthropologists in all parts of Africa, it is still difficult for the inexperienced Westerner to appreciate the central place of group membership in the lives of Africans. Villagers with whom I lived for two years in Africa were admittedly disturbed if they saw me sitting alone, and someone was invariably dispatched to sit with me on such occasions. Never once in Nigeria, except among Europeans, did I ever see people eating alone. African friends commented that only social pariahs, lepers, or mentally ill persons would be seen taking food by themselves. On the farm, in housebuilding, or when compound walls are repaired, African peoples use groups, or work bees. Such groups are found all over East, Central, and West Africa. In everyday life this means that a man carries on his usual activities in the constant company of relatives and friends. Even children are not left alone to play. Some watchful adult or elder sister or brother is constantly near, and the child soon learns that to be with others is good, to be alone is bad.