France allowed African customs only when they did not clash with republican principles

Evidence

Instead, these policies show, the French felt they were duty-bound to respect “traditional” West African customs and to encourage the peoples of the federation to evolve within their own African cultures, with one exception. This exception was if the custom in question was deemed to conflict with the principles of civilization as defined by the Third Republic. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 253