Tontine, Daret, Njangi… When Africa Reinvents Solidarity Finance

If you grew up or spent time in Africa, chances are the word “tontine” sounds familiar. You may have even participated in one with colleagues, neighbors, or family… The tontine is much more than just a savings system; it’s a social institution, a tool for financial autonomy, and a lever for solidarity.

But did you know that the tontine exists across the entire African continent and goes by as many names as there are languages and cultures?

What exactly is a tontine?

A tontine is a community savings system where each member contributes regularly (weekly, monthly, daily…) to a common fund. At each cycle, one member receives the pot. The turns continue until everyone has received a share.

It’s a system based on trust, mutual support, and collective responsibility. No formal contracts, no banks — a spoken agreement is enough.

From Country to Country: What Tontines Are Called in Africa

Here’s a quick tour of Africa to discover how tontines are named in different places:

Country	Local / Common Name	Cultural Note
Morocco / Algeria / Tunisia	Daret	Practiced among close circles, especially among women.
Senegal	Tontine or Xëy	Very popular, often linked to women's groups.
Côte d’Ivoire	Tontine, Djêkê, Nanan	Common in neighborhoods, bars (maquis), and markets.
Cameroon	Njangi, Tontine	Extremely widespread, even in professional environments.
DRC (Congo)	Likelemba	A community support system, especially in big cities.
Gabon	Tontine, Essengo	A very common informal practice.
Nigeria	Esusu, Ajo, Adashi	Well-structured systems, often managed by collectors.
Ghana	Susu	Sometimes institutionalized as a savings form.
Togo / Benin	Adogbè, Tontine	A driver of local microfinance.
Mali	Tontine, N’Ko	Present in women’s associations.
Burkina Faso	Tontine, Dagré	A major part of community solidarity.
South Africa	Stokvel	Very organized, sometimes even legally registered.
Madagascar	Fokon’olona, Vola mitambatra	A collective village savings approach.

An Ancient Practice, More Modern Than Ever

Today, tontines are no longer limited to circles around a fire or neighborhood courtyards. They’re going digital, opening up to new communities, and being integrated into mobile money apps, fintech platforms, and even innovative African startups.

In Central and West Africa, more and more people manage their tontines through Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money, Wave, or specialized apps.

Why Tontines Stand the Test of Time

No need for a bank or online account
Accessible even in rural areas
Based on social trust, often stronger than formal contracts
Help finance real-life projects: education, business, healthcare, weddings, etc.
Create social bonds and a sense of collective responsibility

Toward Tontine 2.0?

Today, some platforms like Paykko aim to digitize the tontine while respecting its core values: simplicity, transparency, and solidarity.

The goal? To allow a new generation to continue supporting one another — even remotely, even in the digital age.