The West African practices of bridewealth and polygamy suggest that

A) women's function in West African societies was more ornamental than functional.
B) women stood on an equal legal and political footing with men in West African societies.
C) women in West African societies were treated as dependents who drained the resources of their households.
D) women's productive and reproductive labors were highly valued in West African society.

Bridewealth

A cultural practice where the groom (or his family) pays to the family of the bride, symbolizing the transfer of rights and responsibilities.

Polygamy

The practice of having more than one spouse at the same time, permitted in some cultures and religions but illegal in many countries.

West African Societies

A term referring to the diverse cultures, languages, and political entities found in the region of West Africa, characterized by a rich history of kingdoms and empires.