The current restudy in south africa in 201418 found that most young women now disapprove of polygyny, despite the ideology of romantic love and sexual jealousy, although the reasons for entering such marriages are fairly similar to those found 30 years ago. Geographic variation in womens agricultural productivity does not predict differences in the prevalence of polygamy, but historical inequality and exposure to the slave trade do. Overview sex trafficking is a grave violation of human rights and a form of violence against women and children sex trafficking may occur whether or not an international, national or regional border is crossed sex trafficking may involve foreign nationals, citizens, and legal permanent residents of a particular country the purpose of sex trafficking laws, and the effective implementation of. Polygamy and poverty culture impacts women in rural africa. They didnt have any organization, making it easier for others to come in and take over. Subsequently we discuss the contemporary role for marriage, with its associated kinship networks, in the city. D department of religious studies olabisi onabanjo university, agoiwoye ogun state, nigeria abstract. At its core polygamy is natural because men biologically need to spread their seed and it is hard for them to commit to one woman. The manual on the application of rules of origin provides for full. Polygamy in south africa a teachers journey to the rainbow. South africa is one of a few countries where polygamy is actual legal.
A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage and sexuality dr. Jan 11, 2010 southern africa trust prioritises needs of civil society during covid19 lockdown. Islam was the religion of merchants and bureaucrats. Other estimates also suggest that poverty in africa declined slightly faster and is slightly lower. Jun 14, 2017 in many different ways, members of our society continue to weigh in on many social issues, whether it is about prostitution, gay marriage, capital punishment, unfaithfulness in relationships or some other social issue. And the promotion of good governance, peace and security and economic. However, in 2017, a new hit reality tv show brought the.
The journey to the motherland introduces you to a vibrant africa with a mix of roots, culture, paradise, night life, shopping, networking, business and investment opportunities. The practice of polygyny polygamy is attested to in many parts of africa. Christian missionaries and the shona of rhodesia washington dc, univ. It fostered literacy in arabic, the spread of islamic learning, and the construction of mosques in the cities of west africa.
Polygamy and poverty are both widespread in subsaharan africa. Africa boserup 1970 was the first to propose that the high incidence of polygyny in subsaharan africa is rooted in the sexual division of labor in hoe agriculture and the large economic contribution of women. In africa, polygamy is viewed as a sociological issue rather than a religious one doi, 1996, and in some countries polygamy has also become a legal issue. The same can be said about the americo liberian settlers. Muthengi polygamy and the church in africa 59 second, polygamy is mot1vated by desire to secure all1ance w1th good families in this case, marriage from the african context is viewed as involving families and communities rather than individuals hillman 1975. Furthermore it prevents the husband from giving his whole heart to the woman of his choice, which. Sesedzai rupuwu owns nothing except the tattered clothes that are neatly packed in her small, faded suitcase. Jun 27, 2011 the issue of polygamy has dominated the press for the past week in south africa not least of all because of president zumas polygamous practices, as profiled on the world stage, and his impregnation of irvan khozas daughter as revealed in the press over the weekend. When a man is married to more than one wife at a time, sociologists call this polygyny. Pdf on jan 1, 2006, philippe antoine and others published the complexities of nuptiality. South africa society and culture complete report 2010 page 9. Pdf background researchers from a variety of disciplines have presented.
This practice is very common among the animist and the muslim communities. What good did arabs and europeans most desire from subsahara africa prior to the 15th century. When this question was asked by citizen tv during prime time news, i frowned in puzzlement. Gertrude pswarayi women news network wnn mdg stories midlands province, zimbabwe. Rupuwu has an aged, wrinkled face that betrays her mere 48. Polygamy became taboo with colonialism due to the conflict with inheritance in large families, the socialeconomic threat caused by increased african populations and the eurocentric christian values. Due to the high mortality caused by unfavorable climate, deadly diseases, and wars, population. Jul 27, 2011 gertrude pswarayi women news network wnn mdg stories midlands province, zimbabwe.
Box 4384400100, nairobi, kenya abstract it is the opinion consensuses of a few scholars that the institution of marriage has continued to. But this argument is one commonly given to explain the tradition. The reasons for its existence and persistence are varied and have been a source of fierce. Polygamy is permitted under customary law and is common in rural areas. Polygamypolygyny expert esther stanford gives a sharp and profound scholastic food for thought on polygamy and african people. To the contrary, the old testament and rabbinic writings frequently attest to the legality of polygamy. Furthermore it prevents the husband from giving his whole heart to the woman of his choice, which we cannot but look upon as the natural ideal in marriage. The members of the task force rural africa tfra were selected and appointed in a personal. Polygyny was the acceptable form of marriage in africa prior to the arrival of the colonizers and christianity. Polygamy vs monogamy from an african perspective ghana. Scholars have suggested, for example, that polygamy crowds out productive investment tertilt 2005, reduces investment in girls education edlund and lagerlof 2006 or diminishes the labour supply of unmarried men edlund and lagerlof 2012. Jan 06, 2010 in south africa, egypt, eritrea, morocco and malaysia and in iran and libya with the written consent of the first wife. The husband in an existing customary marriage wishing to marry a second wife must apply to a competent court for such a marriage to be legal.
Polygamy was common and widespread in the ancient world and widely practiced among some religious groups. Context of subsaharan africa although subsaharan africa has had a long history of contacts with the outside world, a form of rather ancient culture that was based on an economy of high land man ratio became wellestablished in subsaharan africa. The practice is becoming less popular today in south africa, though. It has the fastest rate of urbanization presently taking place in the world. As the article pointed out there are a lot of questions that are raised. Sub saharan africa has one of the fastest annual population growth rate merrick 202. Motivated by a simple model, i use dhs data to test nine hypotheses about the prevalence and decline of african polygamy. Given this bewildering diversity, is it even possible to classify. World cultures chapter 4 heritage of africa flashcards. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. Polygamy, which is defined as the practice of having more than one spouse, is a common, and widespread, socially as well as culturally accepted phenomenon in many african countries 1,2. First, greater female involvement in agriculture does not increase polygamy. The trend over the past century has been toward limiting polygamy.
A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage. For example in senegal there are almost 47% of the marriages where they feature more than one woman. But some of africas wealthiest and most influential people engage in the controversial practice, which is legal in much of africa. Polygamy and christianity in africa t a falaye, ph. Overall the polygamy in africa is a very common practice that you are going to find all over africa, but it tends to be more popular especially in the west african countries. Polygamy is widespread in africa wh1le polyandry is almost a foreign phenomenon shorter 197 4. It was only after the colonial era in africa appeared when polygamy started being looked at as a taboo.
West africas indigenous religions remained strongest in the forest region. The transformation of societies in the subcontinent from rural to urban settings has immensely contributed in triggering changes in. Most south africans against polygamy, survey shows the. In many different ways, members of our society continue to weigh in on many social issues, whether it is about prostitution, gay marriage, capital punishment, unfaithfulness in relationships or some other social issue. Districts of french west africa that received more colonial teachers and parts of subsaharan africa that received protestant or catholic missions have lower polygamy rates in the present. Top 10 reasons why african men love polygamy expert how. Polygamy is legal under certain circumstances in south africa. Southern africa trust prioritises needs of civil society during covid19 lockdown. As a matter of fact, the settlers got involved in this practice of having more than one wife. Rhodesia, 18971914, journal of religion in africa 1976, viii, 4151. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Polygamy from late greek, polygamia, state of marriage to many spouses is the practice of marrying multiple spouses.
Although the precise word for marriages of single husbandmultiple. Apr 08, 2016 several theories link polygamy to poverty. They live with the situation, resigned to their fate imposed by an inhumane and inegalitarian law. It was only after the colonial era in africa appeared when polygamy started being looked at as.
Islamic marriages are potentially polygynous, and african customary marriages are polygynous. Start studying world cultures chapter 4 heritage of africa. In the bush fallow system, men generally perform the demanding task of clearing forests and women the lighter tasks of culti. All polygamous marriages entered into in accordance with the provisions of the recognition of customary marriages act are legal.
African tradition of polygamy faces economic, legal. Polygamy in south africa a teachers journey to the. However, in 2017, a new hit reality tv show brought the topic to the mainstream in south africa. They live with the situation, resigned to their fate impose. N moosa only very rarely in human history does the advent of a singlephenomenon so fundamentally impact upon an entire civilisation so as to cause it to reexamine. If a marriage includes multiple husbands and wives, it can be called a group marriage. All social and cultural practices find their connection with a notion of family, either supporting or distorting it.
Subsaharan africa has now assumed the dubious reputation of being the the poorest region in the world. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. Sub saharan africa has one of the fastest annual population. Top 10 reasons why african men love polygamy expert. From early female union to male polygamy in africa find, read. Pdf polygynous marriage and child health in subsaharan africa. In other places such as israel, chechnya and burma it is. This brochure provides an overview of the oecds work with africa and underlines the interest of the. A few years ago i was commissioned by a womens magazine to write a column on the place of polygamy in todays society. Polygyny times 4 and he desired many wives 2 chronicles 11. The transformation of societies in the subcontinent from rural to urban settings has immensely contributed in triggering changes in family structure. The cultures have been selected to represent africa, in the sense that they include the larger and betterknown cultures or clusters of cultures out of the more than two thousand cultures that.
Whereas it is believed erroneously among many people that polygamy implies the art of a man being married to more than one wife, the true definition of polygamy implies the. James fenske 09 november 20 several theories link polygamy to poverty. Some societies have introduced a gradual reduction in the number of wives permitted, while others. In the polygamy belt stretching from senegal to tanzania.
A survey in 2010 found that nearly threefourths of south africans disapprove of polygamy. In 1 timothy the requirements for church leaders is that he is the husband of one wife. In south africa, egypt, eritrea, morocco and malaysia and in iran and libya with the written consent of the first wife. More than 5 million people in south africa are hiv positive the most of any country in the world. Living in a country like senegal that allows polygamy to men, up to 4 wives, does not mean that senegalese women generally approve of it. Polygamy and poverty are both widespread in africa. Mar 04, 2010 even though polygamy is a part of its traditions, there is a new reality that raises questions about whether this lifestyle has a place in modern south africa. B npolygamy and the challenges of childlessness vv. Introduction to africa this introduction provides some basic information as background for the detailed accounts of the particular cultures that follow. Polygamy of either sort is far less common than it used to be, and is now concentrated in africa, the middle east, india, thailand, and indonesia. Polygamy is concentrated in west africa and has declined in recent decades. Even though polygamy is a part of its traditions, there is a new reality that raises questions about whether this lifestyle has a place in modern south africa. In rural africa, the practice has been seen as an economic necessity, since multiple wives and their children provide unpaid labor in farm fields.
Jul 24, 2017 african types of polygamy, black women in polygamy, uncategorized africa, africanamericans, black men, black people, black polygamy, black women, ghana, marriage, polygamy 0 comments august 20, 2015 yoruba polygamy ooooo. Upcoming elections in countries like nigeria and south africa could. In this current article, the issues desk wishes to look at polygamy specifically, polygyny or male polygamy presenting ten reasons why everyone should welcome. The second chapter surveys the principal aspects of the churchs teachings on marriage and polygamy, teachings that are rooted in. Mbiti says that each person in african traditional life lives in or as a part of the family 1975, p.
75 868 187 274 848 929 1263 729 626 837 1204 803 861 488 1429 151 546 374 663 1503 258 44 574 183 706 418 1403 990 946 380 914 185 1478 585 9 1209 1497 411 828 1359 709 923 463 16 888 335 605 1099 1050 1460 857