Polygamy in Africa

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Polygamy in Africa has existed throughout the history of Africa. [1] Polygamy, particularly polygyny, is a highly valued social institution in Africa. [1] Polygamy is a marriage between a man or woman and their multiple spouses. [2] Polygyny is a marriage between a man and multiple wives. [2] Polyandry is a marriage between a woman and multiple husbands. [2] A common expectation for African kings in African societies is for African kings to symbolically unify his kingdom and the society through partaking in polygamous marriages with wives from a broad range of clans within the society. [2] By doing so, the king reduces the chance of dissident and rival forces developing and rising against him. [2]

Contents

History

North Africa

Egypt

Evidence for polygamy in ancient Egypt can be found among both the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom. [3]

During the dynastic rule of Amenophis III, numerous polygynous marriages between Amenophis III and foreign princesses occurred, which later led to the princesses being buried in the Valley of the Queens along with the following description of them as part of the harem of the king: “'She of numerous nights in the city of the brilliant Aten'; 'She who appears in glory in the temple of the brilliant Aten'; 'She who strikes with fury for the brilliant Aten'.” [4]

An example of polygamy from a 20th Dynasty period papyrus, which is one among several other examples from the 20th Dynasty that highlight grave robberies, highlights the tribunal case of gold worker, Ramose; during the case, Mutemhab, his wife, indicated during her testimony that he had two dead wives and another wife who was not dead; notably, Ramose was subsequently brought to trial for grave robbery and not polygamy. [3]

While Herodotus characterized the ancient Egyptians as being monogamous, Diodorus characterized the ancient Egyptians as being polygamous; [3] [5] according to Diodorus Siculus, "In accordance with the marriage-customs of the Egyptians the priests have but one wife, but any other man takes as many as he may determine; and the Egyptians are required to raise all their children in order to increase the population, on the ground that large numbers are the greatest factor in increasing the prosperity of both country and cities." [6]

West Africa

Ivory Coast

Following the development of Ivory Coast’s first national census in 1975 CE, 23% of men were found to be participating in a polygynous marriage in 1988 CE, and the average polygynist man was found to have 2.3 wives, with higher rates of polygyny found in rural areas than in Abidjan. [7] From 1955 CE to 1988 CE, rates of polygyny in Ivory Coast remained fairly consistent, occurring with four out of 10 married women, though there was some decline found in rural areas from the early 1960s CE to mid-1970s CE. [7]

Mali

Between the 12th century CE and the 15th century CE, polygamy was a cultural practice of the Mali Empire. [8] [9] In the Mande narrative of Sundiata Keita’s Epic, Keita partook in a polygamous marriage with two women, whom he had children with, and whose children were in political competition with one another. [10]

Mauritania

In Tichitt culture, households may have been used by extended families or polygamous families at locations such as Akreijit. [11]

East Africa

Uganda

During the Kingdom of Buganda, the king of Buganda partook in polygynous marriages to reduce the chance of dissident and rival forces developing and rising against him. [2]

Customs

North Africa

Egypt

While monogamy was predominant among ancient Egyptians, neither customs and traditions nor laws of ancient Egypt criminalize polygamy. [12] A husband treating his wife well, family stability, and wholesome co-parenting was encouraged. [12] The act of adultery was socially stigmatized. [4] Women could also compose their own marital contracts, which may have contributed to lower rates of divorce and opportunities for polygyny. [12]

Kings of ancient Egypt partook in polygynous marriages. [3] Politically arranged polygynous marriages occurred between male members of the royal family and foreign princesses. [4] While lower class and middle class men mostly could not afford to financially support more than two wives or wife and concubine(s), kings and upper class men could afford to engage in polygamy, with kings having many wives and concubines and upper class men having at least one wife and some concubines. [12]

It can be difficult to draw broad conclusions about the ancient Egyptians and polygamy due to the frequent ambiguity found among available evidence from ancient Egypt. [3] For example, a 20th Dynasty period papyrus includes the following common example found among available evidence: “‘The citizeness A, the wife of B, and the citizeness C, his other wife, in total 2.’” [3] As Watterson (2011) states regarding this common example: “The reference may be to two contemporaneous wives; on the other hand, wife A may have been divorced or dead before B married wife C – there is nothing to indicate which was the real state of affairs.” [3]

Less ambiguous evidence for polygamy in ancient Egypt can be found among both the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom. [3] Examples from the Middle Kingdom involve people from among the bureaucrat class of ancient Egypt. [3] An example from a papyrus, which is one among several other examples from the 20th Dynasty that highlight grave robberies, highlights the tribunal case of gold worker, Ramose; during the case, Mutemhab, his wife, indicated during her testimony that he had two dead wives and another wife who was not dead; notably, Ramose was subsequently brought to trial for grave robbery and not polygamy. [3] During the dynastic rule of Amenophis III, numerous polygynous marriages between Amenophis III and foreign princesses occurred, which later led to the princesses being buried in the Valley of the Queens along with the following description of them as part of the harem of the king: “'She of numerous nights in the city of the brilliant Aten'; 'She who appears in glory in the temple of the brilliant Aten'; 'She who strikes with fury for the brilliant Aten'.” [4]

While Herodotus characterized the ancient Egyptians as being monogamous, Diodorus characterized the ancient Egyptians as being polygamous; [3] [5] according to Diodorus Siculus, "In accordance with the marriage-customs of the Egyptians the priests have but one wife, but any other man takes as many as he may determine; and the Egyptians are required to raise all their children in order to increase the population, on the ground that large numbers are the greatest factor in increasing the prosperity of both country and cities." [6]

West Africa

Ivory Coast

Following the development of Ivory Coast’s first national census in 1975 CE, 23% of men were found to be participating in a polygynous marriage in 1988 CE, and the average polygynist man was found to have 2.3 wives, with higher rates of polygyny found in rural areas than in Abidjan. [7] From 1955 CE to 1988 CE, rates of polygyny in Ivory Coast remained fairly consistent, occurring with four out of 10 married women, though there was some decline found in rural areas from the early 1960s CE to mid-1970s CE. [7]

Mali

Between the 12th century CE and the 15th century CE, polygamy was a cultural practice of the Mali Empire. [8] [9] In the Mande narrative of Sundiata Keita’s Epic, Keita partook in a polygamous marriage with two women, whom he had children with, and whose children were in political competition with one another. [10]

Mauritania

In Tichitt culture, households may have been used by extended families or polygamous families at locations such as Akreijit. [11]

East Africa

Uganda

During the Kingdom of Buganda, the king of Buganda partook in polygynous marriages to reduce the chance of dissident and rival forces developing and rising against him. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polygyny</span> Mating system in which the male partner may have multiple partners

Polygyny is a form of polygamy entailing the marriage of a man to several women. The term polygyny is from Neoclassical Greek πολυγυνία (polugunía); from Ancient Greek πολύ (polú) 'many', and γυνή (gunḗ) 'woman, wife'. It is also referred to in some circles and non-patriarchal polygamy.

Polygamy is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more than one husband at the same time, it is called polyandry. In sociobiology and zoology, researchers use polygamy in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormonism and polygamy</span> History of polygamy among Mormon denominations

Polygamy was practiced by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890 by between 20 and 30 percent of Latter-day Saint families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amenhotep III</span> Ninth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt

Amenhotep III, also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent or Amenhotep the Great and Hellenized as Amenophis III, was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. According to different authors, he ruled Egypt from June 1386 to 1349 BC, or from June 1388 BC to December 1351 BC/1350 BC, after his father Thutmose IV died. Amenhotep was Thutmose's son by a minor wife, Mutemwiya.

The Mandé peoples are an ethnolinguistic grouping of native African ethnic groups who speak Mande languages. Various Mandé speaking ethnic groups are found particularly in the western regions of West Africa. The Mandé languages are divided into two primary groups: East Mandé and West Mandé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Royal Wife</span> Principal wife of the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt

Great Royal Wife, or alternatively, Chief King's Wife, is the title that was used to refer to the principal wife of the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, who served many official functions.

Traditional Sunni and Shia Islamic marital jurisprudence allows Muslim men to be married to multiple women. Men can have up to four wives at a time according to the islamic jurisprudence.

Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. Specifically, polygyny is the practice of one man taking more than one wife while polyandry is the practice of one woman taking more than one husband. Polygamy is a common marriage pattern in some parts of the world. In North America, polygamy has not been a culturally normative or legally recognized institution since the continent's colonization by Europeans.

Polygamy is "the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time." Polygamy has been practiced by many cultures throughout history.

Monogamy is a relationship of two individuals in which they form an exclusive intimate partnership. Having only one partner at any one time, whether that be for life or whether that be serial monogamy, contrasts with various forms of non-monogamy. More generally, the term is used to describe the behavioral ecology and sexual selection of animal mating systems, referring to the state of having only one mate at any one given time. In a human cultural context, monogamy typically refers to the custom of two individuals, regardless of orientation, committing to a sexually exclusive relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polygyny in India</span>

Polygamy, including polygyny, is outlawed in India. While it was not prohibited in Ancient India and was common among aristocrats and emperors, it is believed that it was not a major cultural practice. The lack of prohibition was in part due to the separation between land laws and religion, and partially since all of the major religions of India portrayed polygamy in a neutral light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polygamy in Nigeria</span>

Under civil law, Nigeria does not recognize polygamous unions. However, 12 out of the 36 Nigerian states recognize polygamous marriages as being equivalent to monogamous marriages. All twelve states are governed by Sharia law. The states, which are all northern, include the states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara which allows for a man to take more than one wife.

Mozambique prohibits legal recognition of polygamous unions, yet there are no legal restrictions against the practice itself, which has been reported to be quite widespread in the coastal country. As of 2019, it was estimated that about nearly 20% of married women aged 15–49 are
in polygynous unions. The first wife, called the "senior wife" enjoys more recognition, not only because she is legally recognized, but also due to the long-standing traditions of Mozambique, that give her a higher rank than junior wives; and a higher bride price is paid for the senior wife.

The Republic of Afghanistan, which is an Islamic Republic under Sharia Law, allows for polygyny. Afghan men may take up to four wives, as Islam allows for such. A man must treat all of his wives equally; however, it has been reported that these regulations are rarely followed. While the Qur'an states that a man is allowed a maximum of four wives, there is an unspecified number of women allowed to be his 'concubines'. These women are considered unprotected and need a man as a guardian.

Though legally prohibited since 1962, polygamy is still marginally practiced in Rwanda. Polygyny is the only form traditionally practiced. It is most prevalent in rural areas, older generations, and adherents of traditional/animist religion. In 2012, 5.4% of rural men were in polygynous unions; this included 15% of rural men over 80 years old but less than 3% of men under 30, with the average number of wives being two. Animism has the greatest proportion of polygynous men, followed by non-religious men and Islam. However, the vast majority of polygynous men are Christian. Polygyny has been in decline since the first census data in 1978.

The legal status of polygamy varies widely around the world. Polygyny is legal in 58 out of nearly 200 sovereign states, the vast majority of them being Muslim-majority countries. Some countries that permit polygamy have restrictions, such as requiring the first wife to give her consent.

Polygamy is illegal in Ghana, but the restrictions are not heavily enforced. Polygamous marriages are illegal under civil law, though are arguably considered to be legal under customary law. Despite these exceptions, there have been no reports of a legally contracted polygamous marriage in Ghana; and are considered to be "de facto" illegal. An estimated 22% of Ghanaian women live polygamously.

Polygamy in Guinea is generally illegal. Polygamy is regulated under the new 2019 family law. The new regulations stipulate that a marriage is presumed to be monogamous; however a couple may legally enter into a polygynous marriage if the groom declares that he is opting for polygyny during the marriage ceremony and the bride gives "explicit consent". The new law is the result of a long legislative battle between those who wanted free polygamy without restrictions and those who wanted a complete ban.

Great Wife, otherwise appearing in West Africa as Senior Wife, is an honorific applied to the principal female spouse in African polygynous unions. It is widely used by contemporary royal and aristocratic wives in states throughout the modern continent as a synonym for consort.

The wheel in Africa was used, to various extents, throughout the history of Africa. While it may have been common for Africans to manually carry their goods or use pack animals to transport economic goods in Africa, there was broad awareness, knowledge, and use of wheeled transports in Africa. However, the environment in some parts of tropical Africa, as well as alternative forms of travel and transport, such as via canoe and beasts of burden/riding animals, may have resulted in decreased use of animal-drawn wheeled transport in Africa. The wheel was also given other technical applications in Africa, such as a water wheel and a potter's wheel.

References

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