University of Iringa

Assessment of the factors contributing to and

impact of polygamy to the society: a case of

Shinyanga municipal

By Thomas Sam

A research paper submitted in partial fulfilment

of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of

Divinity

2014

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Table of ContentsCHAPTER ONE...................................................11. INTRODUCTION...........................................11.1. Chapter overview.......................................11.2. Background information.................................11.3. Statement of the problem...............................21.4. Research objectives....................................31.4.1. General objective......................................41.4.2. Specific objectives....................................41.5. The significance of the study..........................41.5.1. To the individuals.....................................41.5.2. To the researcher......................................41.5.3. To other researchers...................................51.5.4. To Ebenezer and Angaza parishes........................51.5.5. To University of Iringa...............................51.6. Scope and limitation of the study......................51.7. Definitions of terms used in this study................61.7.1. Polygamous marriage....................................61.7.2. Monogamy...............................................61.7.3. Polygamy....................Error! Bookmark not defined.1.7.4. Polygyny...............................................61.7.5. Polyandry..............................................61.7.6. Polyamory...................Error! Bookmark not defined.1.7.7. Poverty................................................61.7.8. Street children........................................71.7.9. HIV....................................................71.7.10.Marriage....................Error! Bookmark not defined.1.7.11.AIDS...................................................71.7.12.Birth control..........................................7

CHAPTER TWO...................................................82. LITERATURE REVIEW......................................82.1. Introduction...........................................82.2. Theoretical Literature overview.....Error! Bookmark not

defined.2.2.1. The nature of marriage.................................82.2.2. The traditional (African) marriage.....................92.2.3. The concept of polygamy................................9

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2.3. Empirical literature review...........................112.3.1. Studies done by others on polygamous marriage.........112.3.2. Causes of polygamous marriage.........................112.3.3. Impact of polygamous marriage.......................182.3.3.1.....................................Creation of classes

......................................................192.3.3.2......................Affect young girls psychologically

......................................................202.3.3.3.....Affect the relationship between children and their

mother................................................202.3.3.4...........................................Spread of HIV

......................................................202.3.3.5................Danger due to the big gap of the married

......................................................212.3.3.6......................Undermines the well-being of women

......................................................212.3.3.7...........High rates of divorce due to regular conflict

......................................................222.3.3.8...............................Un-educated younger wives

......................................................222.3.3.9............................Unrelated adult in household

......................................................232.3.3.10........................Dilution of fathers’ investment

......................................................232.3.3.11.............................................Inequality

......................................................242.3.3.12................Source of poverty in society and family

......................................................242.3.3.13........................................Street children

......................................................252.3.3.14........................................Economic burden

......................................................252.3.3.15..............................................Conflicts

......................................................252.3.3.16...........................................Child labour

............................Error! Bookmark not defined.2.3.3.17................................................Jealous

......................................................26

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2.3.3.18....Increase of fear and remove of joy among the couple......................................................27

2.3.4. Solutions to polygamy.................................28

CHAPTER THREE................................................303. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY..................................303.1. Introduction..........................................303.2. Research approach.....................................303.3. Research design.......................................313.4. Description and Justification of the study area.......313.5.2. Sampling method.......................................323.5.3. Sample size...........................................323.6. Data collection.......................................333.7.2. Data analysis.........................................343.8. Research limitations..................................34

CHAPTER FOUR.................................................364. RESEARCH FINDINGS.....................................364.1. Introduction..........................................364.2. Demographic data of respondents.......................364.2.1. Gender of respondents.................................364.2.2. Educational level of respondents......................364.2.3. Age of respondents....................................374.2.4. Religious status of respondents.......................384.2.5. Occupation of respondents.............................384.3. Data presentation.....................................384.3.1. People’s understanding of polygamous marriage.........384.3.2. Factors contributing to polygamous marriage at Ebenezer

and Angaza parishes...................................394.3.3. The impact of polygamy to the society.................404.3.4. Strategies that could be adopted to minimize polygamous

marriages.............................................414.3.5. Strategies that could be adopted to minimize polygamy.42

REFERENCE....................................................43

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CHAPTER ONE

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1. Chapter overview

This chapter covers the background of the study, statement of the

problem, Purpose of the study, research objectives, research

significance and scope and limitation of the study.

1.2. Background and context

Ebenezer and Angaza Parishes are in Shinyanga Municipal.

Shinyanga municipal is in the central part of Shinyanga region.

It is surrounded by Season Rivers and permanent rivers such as

Mhumbu and Kidaru, and also it is surrounded by mines such as

Maganzo gold mine and Mwadui diamond mine. The rainfall season

starts in October and ends in April.

As a result of climatic condition, this area is suitable for

cultivation of different cash and food crops such as beans,

groundnuts, rice vegetable and cotton. Generally the people of

this area are small peasant and some are civil servants. The

civil servants include medical doctors, nurses, veterinary

officers, teachers and other officers.

Also there are business men and women. The majority of people who

live in this area are Sukuma tribe. Their staple foods is rice

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and stiff porriage, fish and vegetables. The main local drinks

are “Komoni, Kimpumu kindi and wanzuki” and the seasonal drink

which is bamboo juice. The tea and soda are taken but mainly by

children, old people, sick people and who believe that to use

alcoholic drinks is not fair.

The people engaged in culture activities as well. The main

activities include singing and playing traditional music. Among

the well knowing traditional dancing are Kabunga, Busheshanga,

Bugobogobo, Beni, Buzoli and Ugoyange. The leaders of these

traditional dancing are called Manju. The main purpose of these

dancing is to educate, and promoting traditional way of life, but

also to entertain people. Drums called “Kabunga and Busheshanga

their dancers are woman only, but anybody can watch and enjoy how

they dance. Drum called Beni, their dancers should wear white

shirt and white flag on his/her hand rising up. Anybody can play

this kind of drums. Drums called Buzoli their dancers play with

snake and this drum is very funny and very attractive.

Bugobogobo is another drum which people like it very much. Almost

all drums they dance follow special steps while singing and

instruments like a big drum supported with small drums during

singing. In most cases these people show their talents through

dancing, a thing that attracts women and stimulates the spirit of

polygamous marriage. When they dance other activities can be

going on. For example the activities such as “chagulaga” (choose

the one you love) can be going on. These cultural performances

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compel girl to select one man among many young men in the dance,

who will escort her at the end of dance (normally dance end at

night). The one who has been chosen will go with the girl

anywhere he likes or they like and no one will question him or

her because traditions defend them thing which may result in

doing sex and finally very possible to end in polygamy for those

who have already married. The others should accept and surrender

that it’s not their luck to be chosen so peacefully they should

go back may be to find another opportunity for another girl in

the dance. All girls on the dance should have a boy to go with or

to escort her to home. This practice promotes and stimulates man

to marry polygamy because the act of community to allowing young

people to dance up to night and at the time of departing one boy

to escort one girl instead of group, is very possible to be

attempted to sex and from there they can build relationship which

end in polygamy. By using verbal singing and the drums, these

traditional dancing also encourages working spirit among the

members of the society and also teach norms of the tribe. Those

men who stick to working spirit normally become prosperous. Most

of the prosperous men in this area are tempted to have polygamous

type of marriage.

1.3. Statement of the problem

Shinyanga is among the region which Sukuma the largest tribe in

Tanzania lives. The habitual of marrying more than one wife among

Sukuma exist for a very long period of time. Sukuma is among the

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tribe in Tanzania which normally like to protect and develop

culture, customs and traditional way of life. Marrying many waves

according to Sukuma is one of traditional way of life. When a man

marries more than one wife, community counts him as one who

promotes, develop and maintain culture. In reality, this

traditional way of life for the previous years was not a problem,

instead seems to be a grace for the family and society in general

because the man needs many wives for farming, tending and bearing

children. At early years the field for farming and tending cattle

was available at every Conner in Sukumaland, but this days

Shinyanga is among the region which their residence lack areas

for farming and tending animals/livestock which result in

fighting themselves for land. This is due to the rapid growth of

population. According to the national census 2012 Shinyanga

region has a population of about 1.6 million people compare with

census of 1960 Shinyanga had a population of about 150,000

people. For this modern generation marrying many wives is to

create a lot of problems among the family and society in general.

In reality, polygamous is the source of many problems in the very

modern society. Most of people in our country live in rural areas

which depend on farming and keeping cattle. To promote this old

culture is to create the endless poverty to the families due to

the scarcity of farming and tending fields compare to the

previous years. Also the climate changes which cause over heat

and over rain create a lot of challenges. Due to the scarcity of

farming and tending field, (people rise in number but land remain

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the same) Conflict, quarrel and endless fighting among the co-

wives and among the children is the normal issue in polygamous

families. In Islamic and tradition religion, polygamous are

allowed but church regulations, polygamous is forbidden. At the

study area, polygamous is very challengeable to the church. Many

men/women in the area are polygamist and once they want to join

the church the church face some challenges such as how about

their wives, children, and about their chances as the leader in

the church. In fact, there are hot discussions among church

leaders to seek how polygamous will be accepted and participate

full in the church as other Christians.

At recent years, there are many diseases include HIV-AIDS. The

man of six wives suffer from AIDS is likely all his six wives

will be in danger. In this case the researcher is indebted to

investigate the causes and the impact of polygamy at Ebenezer and

Angaza Parishes.

1.4. Research objectivesThe research objectives basically explain the general and

specific purpose of conducting the research study for a given

problem. The following are the general and specific objectives of

the study.

1.4.1. General objective

The purpose of the study is the problem under investigation. In

view of this understanding it follows that the main objective of

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this study is to find out the causes of polygamy and the impact

of polygamy to the society.

1.4.2. Specific objectives

Given the general objectives above, the following are the

specific objectives drawn from the purpose:

1. To determine people’s understanding of polygamous marriages;

2. To explore factors contributing to polygamous marriage at

Ebenezer and Angaza;

3. To assess the impact of polygamy to the society; and

4. To find out strategies that could be adopted to minimize the

polygamous marriage at Ebenezer and Angaza

1.5. The significance of the studyIn this section the significance of the study to individual,

researcher, study area, other researchers and the University of

Iringa are presented.

1.5.1. To the individuals

The rule and regulation of Tanzania allow both polygamous and

monogamous marriages. This finding didn’t attempt to agitate

government to change its regulations and policies concern to

polygamous marriage, but it attempt to persuade individual

Tanzanian to think more about polygamous life in this modern

society. Among of direct beneficiaries of my study are; the

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researcher Thomas Sam, other researchers, Ebenezer Parish, Angaza

Parish, and University of Iringa.

1.5.2. To the researcher

The study has extended the researcher’s understanding on the

causes and the impact of polygamy at Ebenezer and Angaza parishes

and be able to be awarded a Degree in Divinity.

1.5.3. To other researchers

The study will be used by other researchers as the source of

empirical study in conducting researches on the same line of

study.

1.5.4. To Ebenezer and Angaza parishes

The study will help Christians and non Christians to gain

knowledge on the causes and the impact of polygamous in their

locations. Also the study will add knowledge to the existing body

of knowledge on the impacts of polygamy to the society.

1.5.5. To University of Iringa

The study will benefit lectures through reading and discovering

gaps which might be resourceful for Lecturers responsible for

theological studies to meet various communities suffering the

same effect and provide a ground for further research.

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1.6. Scope and limitation of the studyThe study is limited to the problem stated above, which face many

families. It has been encountered at Southern East of Lake

Victoria diocese as a sample study representation of other

dioceses. The research was conducted in Shinyanga district

specifically at Ebenezer and Angaza Parishes. Ebenezer and Angaza

parishes has eight villages councils but the researcher dealt

chiefly with four villages councils which are Busongo, Mwagala

….the researcher decided to make the study to the selected

parishes simply because the researcher is experienced and

familiar with the area for he has work as an evangelist in the

area for almost ten years. More than that, this area engaged much

in polygamous marriage more than other areas around. It was also

the area which was easy to get information and also communication

is so easy. So this research paper which focuses on Ebenezer and

Angaza parishes will answer the social problem of polygamy

marriage to the society. The researcher made interview with the

woman, men and children (boys and girls) who are the victims of

the problem, not only that, but the researcher collect other

detail from the church leaders especially pastors and other

leaders of the community through observations. In undertaking

this study, there were some difficulties which limited successful

accomplishment of the research. This is simply because nothing

goes smoothly and some obstacles can be above the researcher’s

capability. Specifically, data inaccessibility and reluctance of

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respondents were required to give out information because of

their own reasons hindered the process of data collection.

1.7. Definitions of terms used in this studyThis section gives the definitions of key terms used in the

study.

1.7.1. Polygamous marriage

According to Newman, Polygamous marriages are the practice of men

marrying more than one woman or are a situation where by a man

marriages more than one wife. Polygamous marriage is a system by

which a man has many or more than one wives (women) at the same

time. Newman (1997, 243)

1.7.2. Monogamy

Monogamy is the custom that allows a person to be legally

married to only one spouse at one time.

Monogamy. (n.d.). © Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.. Retrieved May 12, 2014,from Dictionary.com

1.7.3. Polygyny

Husband has multiple wives

1.7.4. Polyandry

The custom of having more than one husband at the same time

Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary (1948, 1123)

1.7.5 Poverty9

This term can be defined in different ways depending on the

situation and need. This is because the needs of people vary time

to time, place to place, country to country and so on. Poverty is

the lack of enough income or resources to satisfy a person’s

minimum needs according to the standard of the society in which

the person’s live. New book of knowledge (1987; 148)

1.7.6 Street children

These are children who live and walk on the street having little

or no contact with home or parents. They are found in urban

centres, for example market places, bus stand and railways

stations.

1.7.7 HIV

HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” the virus that can

cause AIDS.

Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary (1948, 709)

1.7.8 AIDS

The term AIDS stands for “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” an

illness which attacks the body’s ability to resist infection and

which usually cause death.

Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary (1948, 31)

1.7.9 Birth control

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Birth control is the process of controlling or limiting the

number of children born especially by preventing or lessening the

frequency of impregnation.

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CHAPTER TWO

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

This chapter is dealing with different authors who have dealt

with the problem of polygamy in the society. It will review

literature that is related to this study. Literature review

refers to the works the researcher consults in order to

understand and investigate the research problem (Kombo and

Trompt, 2006). This chapter deals with empirical literature

review on discussing of the understanding of polygamy the cause

of polygamy, the impact of polygamy to the society and the way

to reduce polygamy. In fact there are no studies done on the

cause and impact of polygamy to the society in the southern east

of Lake Victoria Diocese specifically Angaza and Ebenezer

congregations. There is a necessity to learn the extent to which

the Southern East of Lake Victoria diocese played its role and

contribution to fight against polygamy in the society. There are

numbers of studies that have been done outside of Southern East

of Lake Victoria Diocese.

2.2 The nature of marriage

Tanzania’s law recognizes monogamy and polygamy as marriages

which exist in the society of Tanzania. Monogamous marriage is12

defined as the voluntary union of a man and a woman intended to

last for their joints lives. Polygamous marriage is defined as a

union in which the husband may during the subsistence of the

marriage be married to or marry another woman or women. In

Tanganyika, marriages are contracted in civil form; or where both

parties belong to specified religion, according to the rites of

that religion. In Islamic form if the husband is Muslim or where

the parties belong to the community or to communities which

follow customary law, according to the rites of the customary

law. Then the law of marriage point out that for the purpose of

the act a marriage in Islamic form means a marriage contracted in

the manner recognized by Islam or by any school or sect of that

faith. A marriage in Christian form means a marriage celebrated

in a church in the manner recognized by Christian faith or by any

denomination sect of that faith.

2.2.1 The traditional (African) marriage

Tradition marriage involves not only a man and woman but

respective families. Parent of a woman believe that a woman must

remain a girl until she is married to her husband. Our society

believes that a woman is married to man and not vice-versa. So in

Kiswahili a man marries and woman married to a man. (bwana ameoa

na bibi ameolewa). That is to say in fact a man takes a woman

from her home and clan to his own home and clan where the woman

should be welcome and accepted. Then she must be introduced to

ancestor and relatives of the man. Since marriage traditionally

13

is a religious, cultural and sociological event a woman cannot

ignore the religion and the God of her husband. It was believed

that if the woman love the husband, she must automatically be

prepared accept the religion and God of the clan of the man. This

is a psychological process of identification as opposed to faith.

Notwithstanding, traditional marriage is a religious rites. The

Bantu Africans of west Lake Region believe that the first husband

or wife must be respected and honored for the first marriage is

the process through which one rises from childhood to mature

stage of life cycle. One is regarded as a possessor of a home of

his own. As Junod puts it; ‘the married man is called ‘he who has

his home,’ in opposition to the single man…..the kind of

individual called bachelor does not abound amongst the bantu.

Only the utterly wretched invalids and the weak-minded are

deprived of legal marriage, which for the black man is and remain

the one object in life. It is through his wife and children that

he becomes somebody in the society. Traditional marriage is not

marriage and was never complete without conjugal intercourse, the

act of knowing each other. After the first intercourse it was

believed that on the next morning the two were no longer the

children but mature person who should be responsible for each

other. They were counted as adults who could serve the clan and

the tribe as responsible persons. They were to observe all the

taboos of the clan and society. Sebastian k. Lutahoire (1974, 58-

60)

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2.2.2 The concept of polygamyMarriage forms vary according to the society and number of

spouses allowed an individually. In western societies, monogamous

marriages-one husband and one wife at a time-are the rule. Serial

monogamy refers to a series of one-to-one relationship, at a

time. Monogamy is the mostly commonly practiced marriage form in

the world (Hunter and Whitten 1977, 115). However many societies

allow polygamy, permitting more than one spouse at a time.

Two types of polygamous marriage exist; polygyny and polyandry.

Polygyny permits the husband to legally have more than one wife

at a time and is most form of polygamy. In the Blackfoot tribe of

the northern plains of the United State, a man of success was

expected to have a several wives. Often he married sisters of his

first wife (Hunter and Whitten 1977, 108). Polygamous married are

also allowed in many Islamic nations. The Koran permits a husband

to have four wives if they are treated equally. Nevertheless

today most Islamic marriages are monogamous; polygynous appear to

be limited to the small number of wealth men who can afford to

support a large household.

One might think that, polygynous marriage would be full of

conflict and jealousy. But one researcher studying Nigeria women

in polygynous marriages discovered that these women does not

values husbands very much; they were not jealous of each other.

In some cases these wives had more freedom;’ In losing part of

15

their husband’s economic and moral support, they also gain

independent (ware 1979,194). On the other hand, an Egyptian woman

said that one could never trust her husband’s other wives; “They

can only wish each other heartbreak and misfortune’’ (Atiya 1984,

129).

Polyandry allow wife to marry more than one husband. Polyandry is

the least common form of polygamy, practiced in only a handful of

societies. Polyandry has been mostly practiced in India, Tibet,

and Nepal Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, parts of the Arctic, areas of

Mongolia and in some African and American local group. The Toda

of India for example, practiced female infanticide-(the killing

of female babies). As a result there were not enough women to

provide monogamous partners for all of the men in the society.

The Toda solve this shortage through polyandry. When a woman

married a men she became a wife to all of his brothers. This

practice also served to keep the birth rate down, which is

important in a poverty-stricken society that cannot afford to

support a large population. (Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1995,

296) Polyandry also thought to have been practiced in some

Polynesian communities. Mix, (2008, pg 96) points out two forms

of polyandry as: fraternal polyandry where brothers marry the

same woman, and non-fraternal polyandry in which the husbands are

not related.

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If members of a society are concerned about having a large number

of children, polygyny may seem to make more sense\than polyandry

because, in one year a man with several wives can have more

children than can a woman with several husbands. In addition the

question of biological fatherhood can be problematic in

polyandrous marriage. In the Nvinba tribe in Nepal, which

practices polyandry all of the woman’s husband are considered

fathers of her children (Levin 1980).

2.3 Empirical literature review

This section the studies done on the research problem are

presented and discussed.

2.3.1 Studies done by others on polygamous marriage

There are many researchers who have studied polygamous marriage

in different situation. These are the examples of researchers who

were engaged in this problem; Muhsin A. Muhsin (2006) “polygamy

practices and the challenge of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania”. Moses

M.L.Matimbwi (1998) “Taathira ya mitala”; Kyomo and Saaya (2004)

in their book of “Marriage and family in Africa. These

researchers did their researches in other areas and not either

Ebenezer nor Angaza parishes. So the researcher is the first one

to engage in this study at Ebenezer and Angaza parishes.

Researcher aims at investigating the causes and the impact of

polygamous marriage to the society. It is clear that polygamous

marriages are the same all over the World, but the causes and

17

impact of polygamous marriages is different in regards to

different situations.

2.3.2 Causes of polygamous marriage

Traditionally, most African societies have practiced a custom of

polygamous marriage. This custom allows men to have many wives as

long as he can support them physically and financially. Not all

men marry polygamy because they can support them physically and

financially. Others they want only to promote traditional way of

life, others they have inherit others happen accidentally etc.

These wives were married according to the local custom and they

were all legally recognized in the understanding of the local

traditional world-view. In traditional religions such a practice

was not considered evil or sin. Not only that but it was also

regarded as a prestige for a man to have more than one wife and

it was counted as a sign of strong potent character.

The result of previous findings show that there are many factors

that causes polygamous marriage in the societies. Polygamy

marriages were needed for development and protection of

traditions and customs in societies. Drawing on the work of Ester

Boserup, Goody notes that in some of the sparsely populated

regions where shifting cultivation takes place in Africa, much of

the work is done by women. This motivate polygamous marriages in

which men sought to monopolize the production of women "who are

valued both as workers and as child bearers. Goody however,

18

observes that the correlation is imperfect". He also describes

more male dominated though relatively extensive farming systems

such as those that exist in much of West Africa, particularly the

savannah region, where polygamy aids in the production of sons

whose labor is valued.

Goody's observation regarding African male farming systems is

discussed and supported by anthropologists Douglas R. White and

Michael L. Burton in "Causes of Polygyny: Ecology, Economy,

Kinship, and Warfare" where authors note: "Goody (1973) argues

against the female contributions hypothesis. He notes Dorjahn's

(1959) comparison of East and West Africa, showing higher female

agricultural contributions in East Africa and higher polygyny

rates in West Africa, especially in the West African savannah,

where one finds especially high male agricultural contributions.

Goody says, "The reasons behind polygyny are sexual and

reproductive rather than economic and productive" (1973:189),

arguing that men marry polygynously to maximize their fertility

and to obtain large households containing many young dependent

males."

A report by the secretariat of the UN Economic Commission for

Africa (ECA) quotes: "one of the strongest appeals of polygyny to

men in Africa is precisely its economic aspect, for a man with

several wives commands more land, can produce more food for his

household and can achieve a high status due to the wealth which

19

he can command. According to Ester Boserup over much of the

continent of Africa, tribal rules of land tenure are still in

force. This implies that members of a tribe, which commands a

certain territory, have a native right to take land under

cultivation for food production and in many cases also for the

cultivation of cash crops. Under this tenure system, an

additional wife is an economic asset that helps the family to

expand its production.

Boserup (1970)was the first to propose that the high incidence of

polygyny in sub-Saharan Africa is rooted in the sexual division

of labour in hoe-farming and the large economic contribution of

women. In the regions of shifting cultivation where polygyny is

most frequently recorded, labour is often starkly divided between

genders. The task of felling trees in preparation of new plots is

usually done by older boys and very young men. Wives, on the

other hand, are solely or primarily responsible for giving birth

and rearing children; cultivating, processing and providing food

for the family; and for performing domestic duties for the

husband.

An elderly cultivator, with several wives and likely several

young male children, benefits from having a much larger workforce

within his household. By the combined efforts of his young sons

and young wives, he may gradually expand his cultivation and

become more and more prosperous. A man with a single wife has

20

less help in cultivation and is likely to have little or no help

for felling trees. According to Boserup's historical data, women

living in such a structure also welcome one or more co-wives to

share with them the burden of daily labor. However, the second

wife will usually do the most tiresome work, almost as if she

were a servant to the first wife, and will be inferior to the

first wife in status A 1930s study of the Mende in the west

African state of Sierra Leone concluded that a plurality of wives

is an agricultural asset, since a large number of women makes it

unnecessary to employ wage labourers. Polygyny is considered an

economic advantage in many rural areas. In some cases, the

economic role of the additional wife enables the husband to enjoy

more leisure.

Anthropologist Jack Goody

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygyny

In the book Christian approaches to social and ethical issues

discusses several causes that make people to marry many wives.

Some are:

Sexual greediness- African men always feel dissatisfied with one

wife first because they have a sharp appetite for sex and so they

are driven to take on as many wives as possible. More over some

tradition feel they are not strong until they keep on changing

21

“duty” or tribes when one has a wife from “ngo” clan he fells

should get “nkima” clan or another, yet others when he has

Munyawanda type of wife feels he can change to a “Muganda” or

“Mturu”

Uncertainty to the life of the woman; tradition African hold the

view that when one’s wife dies it is an omen and the man is given

a name “Ssemwandu” meaning a widower which is an abuse to them.

So he marries as many as possible so that in case of death he is

secure for not being branded “Ssemwandu plus the burden of

getting another one after death of the other.

Besides most woman always fall sick or have other health

complications and they cannot play sex. Their husband therefore

forced to marry more wives when they cannot divorce the first

one.

Unfaithfulness; most African women are unfaithful to their

husbands for a number reason like not being satisfied either

sexuality or financially and because of that case they take

another man in an adulterous manner. In this case the man is

forced to marry many wives so as to console himself.

Changing status for example one can first marry a woman either

because of her family background but at the expense of other

qualities like education. But when time goes on and a degree

holder feels cannot continue with illiterate, he decides to marry

the literate one, but because the illiterate one is materially

blessed he cannot deny her but instead adds on others.

22

Desire for many children; African attributes high value to kids

and more so different societies recognize different genders. This

means that most men are polygamous because they want many

children for either family labour or prestige/status in society.

Becides there are times when the first wife produced only girl

and the man is forced to marry another wife in hope of producing

boys.

It is also argued that women grow older faster than men. When

this happen men forced marry other wives adding on the older one.

And perhaps this is why they are traditionally called “Mugole

Muto” or “Mukulu” among the Buganda.

Long separation period between the men and his wife; for varies

reason there are periodical separation in African marriage. The

woman wait for a man to go for her at her parent’s home but when

he is the one in wrong he takes his time due to fear of many

things especially fines. When this long separation occurs

therefore the sexually greedy and impatient men marry another

women leading to polygamy later.

Parents interference has also led to persistence of polygamy that

they have always come in to influence the choices of marriage for

their sons. As time goes on they tend to change and have their

own choices thus two wives or more.

Status and prestige in the society

According to African, to marry many wives is prestige. This

culture motivates men to marry many wives. Also for African

23

to have many children born with different woman is the kind

of richness and been trusted.

Family planning

To reduce the possibility of wives to give birth each year,

man marry another woman in case the one give birth, he can

stay or shift to the any one of his wives. So the man meets

with her wife when her child grows enough.

To increase productivity

Another thing which makes man to marry many wives is to

increase family’s strength of production. The man with many

waves strengthen and increase his tutelage by using his

wives and his children for farming, keeping and tending

cattle and also doing business.

The problem of children

Another thing which (may be until now) causes many men to

marry many wives is the problem of children. This problem

lies in two ways which is; (a) childlessness (Barrenness);

many people marry for the aim of having children. In African

traditional, when man marries a woman, he and his clan

expect her to conceive and give birth. If not they believe

that the woman have a problem, so the man should marry

another woman. The society believes that if a man can

consummate with her wife, he is perfect so the woman should

conceive. (b) One side children; this is the problem that

24

motivate man to marry many wives. If the wife gives birth to

only son or to only daughter, her husband desires to have

other side. In African traditional male children have

generally been given special honour and been valued much

more than girls. People believe that a boy is a one who can

inherit the family or the father’s properties and he will

carry his name to the subsequent generation. Generally in

most African families will be comfortable to have all

children being boys, but if they are girls only, they become

uncomfortable assuming that their names won’t be taken into

the subsequent generation. This is because when girl get

married their surname change to their husband’s names and

therefore they becomes parts of husband families. Hence men

have powers and authority to inherit all their parents’

properties and one regarded to be the ones who can extend

the family. It was revealed that several couples affected by

this problem, usually they don’t take initiative to go to

hospital for medical check but they start complaining to

each other and a result man decide to marry polygamy.

To offset periods of pregnancy has also caused polygamy to

persist in African traditional marriages. Most Africans look

as a taboo to sleep with a pregnancy woman. They look at it

as indiscipline, unpleasing, bad, and painful and a dirty

exercise to play sex during pregnancy time and even a few

months after giving birth. But because men cannot tolerate

for a quarter years they take one more so as to offset the

25

period of starvation or hunger” as result of pregnancy.

Christian approaches to social and ethical issues (----, 35)

Ferrar, also discussed that in modern times some workers,

who live in the city, may prefer to have two or more wives

and two or more families; one in the city and another in the

rural area or home land. Ferrar, (1992, 2004) in some cases

a man’s wealth was measured by the number of his wives as

the number of his children and cattle or livestock. If the

person was with wealth but he has only one wife, he was not

respected in that society.

Moore, (1997, further clarifies that polygamous marriage is a way

to provide a form of birth control, in the sense that it would

allow the spacing of children by virtue of the sexual taboo

attached to sex during breast-feeding and pregnancy. Moore,

(1997, 9)

Dickson and Leming argued that men needed polygamous marriage in

order to have sexual enjoyment and mixture in mates. In some

societies, it is a taboo for the couple to refrain from sexual

intercourse during the menstrual period and pregnancy. In this

case, polygamous marriage provided a solution to these problems.

Dickson and Leming (1995, 43)

26

Also Moore argued that religions and culture is another source of

polygamous marriages. For example Islamic religious culture

allows men to marry more than one wife. Moore (1997, 19) Finally,

Leming, added that polygamous marriage is used as means to

secure alternatives in case one wife gets the problem like

sickness, another wife will continue serving the husband with

daily activities without inter fearing the husband’s work. Leming

(1995, 43)

Lack of reproductive health knowledge is another reason for the

man to marry polygamy. Some of the people do not have enough

education on family planning. Most of them think that, having sex

with the pregnant woman or soon after birth will cause

destruction of the milk for the child. This is thought to affect

the child who is still sucking or the child in the womb. Bruce

and Carol in their book has presented different question that are

asked by couples, some of these questions are; “I am pregnant for

about six months, I am afraid of having sex with my husband lest

his sperms affect the child. What should I do then? (Miriam) “my

wife does not allow me having sex with her because our child is

still young. People has told her, if she will do that the sperm

will affect the child and will die, is this true and what shall I

do?. The author shows that there is no problem to have sex with

your wife in any situation. However he warned them to be careful,

so that don’t get another pregnancy while the child is still very

young. This problem affects most of the couples and since they

27

are not knowledgeable about this matter the think that the only

solution is to marry polygamy. Conflict between couples is

another reason for man to marry polygamy. Gwakisa Berere in his

book “chanzo cha nyumba ndogo” wrote that, from the beginning God

create marriage institution so that those entering it should live

in love, peace and comfort. He did not plan for the couple to be

fighting throughout their life time. Due to these fighting’s and

complains majority of the husband don’t like to spend their times

at home hence they prefers coming at home late after their

office/job hours and sometimes they don’t even take their meal at

home. This shows that in some marriages man keeps on complaining

from his decision of getting marriage. This leads not enjoy

sexual intercourse causing him to marry polygamy.

Other factors that lead to polygamy according to reviewed

literature are the forces within the individual that pull towards

love affairs. Kalat in his book of introduction to psychology

argued, ‘physical attraction is the first step in bringing the

couple together. Kalat argued that if physical attraction is

sufficient, the couple will spent enough time together to discuss

more about each other. Kalat James (1993; 715) and this can lead

them to the sexual relationship. For example, if somebody is

attracted by woman who has big buttocks but unfortunately having

a wife with small buttocks a man can fall in love affair because

of being attracted with big buttocks. Men are more affected by

the physical appearance than the women. Kalat James (1993) Tim

28

and Beverly in their book, “tendo la ndoa” insisted that women

are not more affected by being attraction by physical appearance

of men. But this does not mean that, women are not affected

completely by being attracted by physical appearance of men. Tim

and Beverly (1988;14) also Kalat argued that young women attract

men in every culture. It is only young men in their teens or

early 20s prefer women of approximately their own age, but as

they grow older, men prefer women who are 5, 10, or 20 years

younger than themselves, not only because they are attractive,

but also they can give birth to them. Kalat James (1993;714).

Women reach menopause and loose their fertility in the age of 40-

50, therefore men tend to seek sexual relationship with the

younger woman than their wives.

Unlike the forces that pull an individual to love, the literature

suggests that there are forces within the individual that push

them to polygamy. Lack of mutual sex satisfactions, the desire to

escape or find relief from the painful relationship, boredom and

bareness infertility culture and customs are among the force

which push the men to marry polygamy.

2.3.3 Impact of polygamous marriage

There are many impacts resulted from polygamous marriages in

various societies in this world. The following are some of the

impacts as discussed by different researchers on polygamous

marriages.

29

2.3.3.1 Creation of classes

The main effect of polygamy is the creation of a class of men who

can't find wives. There are roughly equal numbers of men and

women in the world. Every time a man takes 4 wives, 3 other men

can't find one. In places where polygamy is common, those numbers

can quickly add up to 15-20% of the population.

Polygamy is most common in places where women don't have civil

rights. When women can get an education, hold a job, own property

and vote, they don't choose to go into polygamy.

Economies of polygamous countries are affected negatively when

there are a lot of men without wives and families and when women

are restricted in how they can contribute to the economy.

Polygamy is part of the reason the countries that allow it are

usually poor. The only ones with real money are those who have

oil revenue from the free democratic countries that don't allow

polygamy

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_effects_of_polygamy

30

2.3.3.2 Affect young girls psychologically

One of the effects of polygamy is that young girls brought up in

the system do not think it a possible thing for a wife to be the

only mistress of a pure and happy home, and the only recipient of

a true and honourable husband's devotion. They have been taught

that a man who does not have plural wives must keep mistresses,

and as they have always heard polygamy compared with the social

evil, they soon learn to place the two systems on the same level.

And as a consequence, girls who have seen the utter misery

produced by the one system do not hesitate about embracing the

other in preference. There is a certain noted woman in Salt Lake

City, who declares that during her residence there, she has

refused admission to hundreds of young Mormon

http://www.biblebelievers.net/cults/mormonism/womenofmormonism/kj

cwom16.htmgirls.

2.3.3.3 Affect the relationship between children and their

mother

Polygamy also negatively affects the relationship between

children and their mothers, with the former resenting the mother

for being unable to make sure the father does not neglect them or

for becoming depressed and also neglecting their emotional needs.

Regardless of gender, they lack of confidence in their own

ability to have stable relationships because they have only

experienced a family life filled with traumatic quarrels and

resentment. The children of second wives usually cope better

31

because from birth they know their father has another family. But

the children from the first family can see the comparison: the

lack of time, lack of resources, their father’s absence when they

needed him. Some of the children insisted SIS help them set up a

support group to help them cope with feelings of isolation; at

school they cannot relate their problems to anyone as they feel

embarrassed about the situation. On my research one of the

interviewer complain that after her husband marry another wife he

forget her and her children and made them to live in very

challenged life. http://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/masjaliza-

hamzah-norami-othman/stress-quarrels-and-neglect-normal-

polygamous-family.

2.3.3.4 Spread of HIV

Each and every disease are considered to be one and the same but

there are some disease that are under hot discussion throughout

the world of today and they are being spoken daily in different

places example in radio, televisions, newspapers, and in

institution like schools, colleges, universities, churches, in

meetings and other many places. Although the rate of spread of

HIV/AIDS is high, still there is a hope of stopping and even

eradicate its history of existence if people will be faithful,

the married be faithful in their wedlock of one wife to one

husband. In polygamous marriage, Kyomo argued that in some cases

the husband is not able to sexually satisfy all his wives

equally. The wife who is not sexually satisfied may find an

32

option of having sexual affair with other man/men outside

marriage wedlock. This can lead to having sexual intercourse with

an infected man suffering from HIV/AIDS. In turn she can cause

the whole family to suffer from this deadly disease. As well as

the man through his many wives can bring in the diseases from one

wife to the other. Kyomo, (2004, 38)

2.3.3.5 Danger due to the big gap of the married

In a polygamous society, the age of marriage will be lower for

females than in a monogamous society. With a relative scarcity of

possible mates of their own age, men seek wives among women of

younger ages. Early marriage in turn leads to much higher rates

of reproduction. Rather than delaying marriage and childbearing

until their twenties or thirties, women marry and have children

as teenagers. In modern social conditions, teen motherhood is

detrimental for both these young women and their families. For a

female teen, marriage to a much older man makes it unlikely that

she will have an equal partnership with her husband and makes the

completion of her education difficult, if not impossible. Indeed,

marriage at a young age to a much older man is also linked to

lethal domestic violence. In the words of one study:

The larger the age gap, the more likely it is that a husband

will kill his wife, and vice‐versa (the young wife murders

her husband). … This suggests that polygyny is relatively

(potentially) much more dangerous than monogamous relations

33

because age gaps of 16 years are not uncommon when

accumulating young wives.

The difference in age exacerbates gender differences, and, for

men, is more likely to give rise to jealous fears that their

young wives will be unfaithful.

2.3.3.6 Undermines the well-being of women

The phenomenon of "co-wives": (a misnomer since polygamy

typically involves a hierarchy among the wives) also undermines

the well-being of women. The senior wives worry that they will be

replaced by younger wives, and the younger wives in turn worry

about the power exerted in the home by senior wives. Research

indicates that levels of domestic strife and violence are higher

in polygamous homes than in monogamous homes as wives seek to

preserve their place with their shared husband as well as

struggle to secure resources for their own biological children.

As Henrich and colleagues point out:

2.3.3.7 High rates of divorce due to regular conflict

Co-wife conflict is ubiquitous in polygamous households. From

anthropology, a review of ethnographic data from 69 non-sororal

polygamous societies from around the globe reveals no case where

co-wife relations could be described as harmonious, and no hint

34

that women’s access to the means of production had any mitigating

impact on conflict.

These conflicts lead polygamous family units, particularly those

with three or more wives, to have in general higher rates of

divorce than monogamous couples. In the supplementary materials

to their article, Henrich, Boyd, and Richerson point out:

“Systematic and controlled analyses from polygynous societies

generally show higher divorce rates for polygynous vs. monogamous

marriages in the same society. … Relative to monogamous families,

polygynous families with more than two wives are five times more

likely to divorce.”

2.3.3.8 Un-educated younger wives

As bad as polygamy is for women, it is perhaps even worse for the

well-being of children. Because the polygamous wives tend to be

younger and less well educated, their children suffer in not

having more mature mothers, as would be more typical of their

counterparts in a monogamous society. The children suffer also

from having multiple stepmothers involved in ongoing struggles

with each other. Half-siblings must compete for limited resources

while having weaker genetic bonds to mitigate the conflict. While

these extended-family relationships could in theory be a source

of support, more often they endanger children. Henrich’s study

explained:

35

2.3.3.9 Unrelated adult in household

Much empirical work in monogamous societies indicates that higher

degrees of relatedness among household members are associated

with lower rates of abuse, neglect and homicide. Living in the

same household with genetically unrelated adults is the single

biggest risk factor for abuse, neglect and homicide of children.

Stepmothers are 2.4 times more likely to kill their stepchildren

than birth mothers, and children living with an unrelated parent

are between 15 and 77 times more likely to die "accidentally."

2.3.3.10 Dilution of fathers’ investment

Polygamous societies also dilute the investment of fathers in

their children in at least two ways. First, because marriage to

other young women is still an option, a husband’s resources of

time, attention, and money are diverted away from his own

children and toward finding new mates. Secondly, in virtue of the

greater number of children in the polygamous family, it becomes

increasingly difficult to give each child sufficient time and

attention. Indeed, some fathers of polygamous families have so

many children that they do not even know each child’s name. This

dilution of paternal investment is similar in effect to being

raised by a single mother with all its attendant risk factors

(especially for males) for drug abuse, trouble with the law, and

dropping out of school.

36

A final harm brought on by polygamy is economic. Henrich’s study

notes:

When males cannot invest in obtaining more wives (because of

imposed monogamy) they invest and save in ways that generate

both reduced population growth and more rapid economic

expansion (increasing GDP per capita). Thus … the nearly

threefold increase in GDP per capita between Comparable

Monogamous Countries and Highly Polygynous Countries is

partially caused by legally imposed monogamy.

Economic well-being contributes in turn to the stability of

families which is a benefit to men, women, and children alike.

2.3.3.11 Inequality

Finally, even aside from the sociological data, there is an

inherent inequality in polygamous marriage. In monogamous

marriage, spouses give themselves as spouses to each other

unreservedly, unconditionally, and entirely. Now, giving oneself

as a husband or wife to one’s spouse does not exclude giving of

oneself in ways that are not distinctly marital to other people

(such as playing tennis with a business partner, or going to the

movies with a group of friends). Part of the marriage vow is the

promise of sexual fidelity, the bodily manifestation of one’s

37

commitment as spouse entirely to the spouse and to the spouse

alone.

In a polygamous marriage, the man does not give himself qua

husband entirely to his wife. A polygamous husband gives himself

qua husband to however many wives he has. Wives, by contrast, are

expected to reserve themselves in a sexual way for their husband

alone. Moreover, wives face inequality among themselves as

“senior wives” enjoy rank above “junior wives.” The polygamous

relationship can never attain the mutual and complete self-

donation of spouses in monogamous marriage because it is

intrinsically impossible to reserve oneself in a sexual way

entirely for one person and at the same time reserve oneself in a

sexual way entirely for a different person (or persons). Marriage

understood as a comprehensive union can exist only between two

persons, and never more than two persons. Society, therefore, has

good reason not simply to proscribe polygamy, but to endorse

monogamy.

2.3.3.12 Source of poverty in society and family

Lives in villages and in towns have been affected by the high

inflation rates. In such circumstances those people who are

polygamists with many children finds that it’s difficult to feed

and provide basic needs to their families. It was revealed that

before man marry to polygamous, he first engage to sexual

relations outside their marriages spend a lot of money in

38

luxurious things to convince her and forget their families. In

most cases families have been suffering while the outside partner

is getting what she want from the same person. As a result the

children from these families face great challenges and some even

stops schooling. Children in school are not given the required

services and love. This has caused a generation that has no basis

in economic and intellectual influence. They don’t think anything

that will develop the society; rather they are always filled with

anger and immoral habit done to them by their parents. Some of

them become very cruel when they are growing up due to lack of

love. The government therefore should look on how to relocate its

resources so that even the poor can have chance to share and

benefit from the expending economic of the nation.

2.3.3.13 Street children

Magesa clarifies polygamous marriage as one of the sources of

many children in the families as well as in the society at large.

In the case of families with huge number of children the

consequence may include some of children not getting a proper

care from their father. As an example they can lack education,

clothing, medical care, food which may lead to kwashiorkor. Not

only that but also can lead to street children and thieves in

search of their daily bread or meet their life needs. Sometimes

they sit in groups asking for support, either money or food from

people passing along them, sometimes they have to carry very

heavy luggage so that they can be paid a little amount of money.

39

During the night they gather together in groups and sleep on shop

corridors and sometimes municipal garden or building and even in

waste water canals which is very dangerous to their lives. The

problem of street children is clearly known to everybody in the

society. It is the responsibility of the community and government

to help them to teach the people who are about to enter into

polygamous marriage to be responsible of these children and to

find out ways of caring them. Alternatively each couple should

have a number of children that they can easily take care. Magesa,

(1998, 130)

2.3.3.14 Economic burden

Scholars have argued that in farming systems where men do most of

the agriculture work, a second wife can be an economic burden

rather than an asset. In order to feed an additional wife, the

husband must either work harder himself or he must hire laborers

to do part of the work and provide all the services for them.

2.3.3.15 Conflicts

Interviews conducted with some of the Logoli Tribe in Kenya

suggested they feared polygynous marriages because of what they

have witnessed in the lives of other women who are currently in

such relationships. The observed experiences of some of the women

in polygynous unions tend to be characterized by frequent

jealousy, conflicts, competition, tensions, and psychological

stresses. Some of the husbands fail to share love and other

40

resources equally; and envy and hatred, and sometimes violent

physical confrontations become the order of the day among co-

wives and their children. This discourages women from entering a

polygynous marriage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygyny

2.3.3.16 child labour

A major problem that is affecting our society and the world today

is child labour. Child labour can be seen as children below the

working age being forced or compelled due to circumstances to

work at the expense of enjoying basic privileges such as

education, good health and protection.

I would like discuss few of such contributing factors to child

labor in my community and the Ghanaian community at large.

Increased number of broken homes in recent times has resulted in

single parenthood. Under such conditions, the single parent may

not be financially sound to cater for a child/children. In this

case a child is sent to out onto the street or elsewhere to labor

or work to earn a living and to pay for his/her school fees if

the child is desirous to be in school otherwise he/she is denied

of basic education. The practice of marrying two or more wives

[polygamy] in Ghana, especially in the rural areas] has a bearing

on this. The notion of some people is that, the more children one

has the wealthier he/she is. So others marry polygamy to get more

41

children, but this in our modern society /world is not always

true in the sense that, as more women and children are born into

the family the more money you need for these women and to cater

for these children as they grow and become more expensive to look

after. Thus the inability of the parents to provide them with the

basic needs compel these poor and innocent children from polygamy

to engage themselves in all kinds of odd and exploitative jobs to

keep them surviving.

Liberty Akutse (2014) http://www.iearn.org.au/clp/archive/write82.htm

2.3.3.17 Jealous

Ferrar, argued that each wife tend to be the husband’s darling

when she is lasted, and to maintain that position until he

marries again. This tendency in itself causes jealousy among

wives. In addition, any inequality in the distribution of gift or

money, or the amount of education received by the children, adds

jealousy and hatred. On the other hand if it happens that one

wife is barren, she can develop jealousy to her fellow wives with

many children. Ferrar, (1992, pg 203-204)

2.3.3.18 Increase of fear and remove of joy among the couple

According to Kyomo, much polygamous marriage face difficult

because of lack of trust. Suspecting of infidelity of partners

42

increases a fear of getting HIV/AIDS infection. The couple, who

suspect that their partner is not faithful, would like to use

condom during sex intercourse for the purpose of protecting

themselves against HIV/AIDS. Many wives said that their husband

do not agree with the use of condom so they feel that they have

to refuse from sexual intercourse in order to protect themselves

and their children’, in fact this becomes the starting point of

marriage problem, like conjugal fighting. If wife refuses to have

sex with her husband, husband uses force in order to solve the

problem. Kyomo and Sahaya(2004,37). And once they become infected

with HIV/AIDS, they start blaming each other’s for being the

source of the problem. This leads them to the endless quarrels.

Sex is the gift to celebrate and to enjoy of it. It is very

difficult to enjoy sex when fears take place. Sexual satisfaction

is more psychological than an emotional issue. Reaching to the

climax depends more on how much mind accept the whole action.

2.3.3.19 children in polygamous families.

In 2002, researchers conducted a review of all quantitative and

qualitative studies that had been done on the effect of polygamy

on children's outcomes (Elbedour et al. 2002). They found that

children of actually polygamous marriages were at greater risk of

experiencing marital conflict, family violence and family

disruptions, marital distress, particularly that related to high

levels of unhappiness of women in polygamous unions, absence of

the father and financial stress. However, some of the studies

43

reviewed found that children, particularly older children in a

family, demonstrated resilience in dealing with these risk

factors. The researchers concluded that cultural factors play a

role in determining the extent to which the risk factors

associated with polygamy negatively affect children. The

researchers suggested that a culture in which polygamy is not

only tolerated but valued, where the larger family size

associated with polygamy is a signifier of social status, and

where women are respected for their role in producing children

may help children deal better with the risk factors associated

with polygamy.

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/

2.3.4 Solutions to polygamy

The church, the nation and the public are responsible to teach

their people about the problems of having many wives. Also

leaders should teach people on home to eradicate the diseases by

avoiding polygamous marriages.

The church should accuse it strongly. That is the church should

not be silent and reluctant this caterpillar and its effect are

eating the society.

More so the church should not divided against this issue. That is

nationally if possible, internationally. The church should have

the uniform view and work together to stop it.

Equally so the church in so doing should provide an alternative

and in this case advocate for monogamy. For example, the church

leaders and members should not welcome or celebrate for a

44

polygamist marriage or members can even isolate them so as to

make them feel the impact.

Most important the government should provide a law against

polygamy since some religions might not comply eg Islam.

The state through its leaders both of the lower and upper levels

should abolish traditional and cultural bondages that have

persisted in favour of these polygamous marriages. For example

Bagandas who need it for multiplicity for beauty, sexual

satisfactions, a lot of family labour illiteracy can be assessed

by the state using even local or village authorities. And to

perfect it, state members should be an example. People should not

inherit woman, as though are properties. This will not only stop

the spread of polygamy but also its danger in society e.g.

diseases.

People should take time to study scrutinize their choices before

marriage. This will solve polygamy due to the desire of beauty,

children and sexual satisfactions i.e. if one marries a barren

woman or deformed in any way should not divorce her to cause

successive polygamy. In other words, as one vows that in badness

and goodness poverty or riches, sickness or health, blessing or

curses, it should be maintained throughout life as long as one

could have taken a time to study his partner/choice before.

Activists, civil societies, moralists, educationalists, and

novelists should organize, write and act against polygamy and its

disasters. For example Masanja’s group can perform a play against

polygamy.

45

Schools and institutions of high learning should teach, educate,

and develop policies against this practice. Besides these

educators should not only be in urban areas but also in village

and should also live an example.

Above all married people can be encouraged to leave with their

wives if it occurs to work far from their homes. This could solve

polygamy due to distant families, which force men to be

polygamous.

46

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

Research methodology refers to a systematic way to be applied in

solving the research problem (Kothari, 1999). Also it may be

understood as a science of studying how research is done

scientifically. It is necessary for researcher to know not only

the research methods/techniques but also the methodologies.

(Kothari, 2004). According to Kombo and Tromp (2006), research

methodology deals with the description of the methods applied in

caring out the research study. It presents various strategies and

techniques employed during conducting the study. So this chapter

explaining the methods which the researcher can use in data

collection technique and information needed for the study. It

comprises of research approach, research design, description and

justification of the study area, population and sample size,

sampling procedure, data sources and data collection, methods of

data collection, data analysis, research limitations and ethical

issues.

3.2 Research approach

(Kothari, 1990) says that there are two basic approaches to

research, quantitative approach and qualitative approach.

According to Grinnel (1997) the research approach can either be

qualitative, quantitative or a combination of both. The47

researcher is supposed to choose one or both according to the

nature of the study. Researcher used both quantitative and

qualitative approaches. The decision for the choice to use both

quantitative and qualitative approaches is based on the goal of

the study and the nature of the topic which the researcher is aim

to investigate the cause and impact of the polygamy in the

society. The research is been conducted in south east of Lake

Victoria Dioceses specifically Ebenezer and Angaza Parishes. The

quantitative describe the phenomenon under investigation using

research questions testing and generalization while qualitative

approach describes the phenomenon under natural setting giving

researchers flexibility to allow for discovery of unexpected and

in depth investigation on the topic. (Kombo and Delno)

3.3 Research design

Kothari, (2004, pg, 8) defines research methodology as a

systematic way to solve the research problem. It may be

understood as a science of studying how research is done

scientifically. In it we study the different steps that are

generally adopted by a researcher in studying his/her research

problem along with the logic behind them. Kothari, (2004, pg. 31)

defines research design as an “arrangement of conditions for

collection and analysis of data in manner that aims to combine

relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure. It

is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted;

it constitutes the blueprint of the collection, measurement and

analysis of data. The research design is qualitative for it

48

involves the explanations of causes and impacts of polygamous

marriage to the society- A case study of Ebenezer and Angaza

congregations.

3.4 Description and Justification of the study area

This study was conducted in Ebenezer and Angaza parishes. Those

parishes are found in the ELCT- South-East of Lake Victoria

Diocese. It is located at Shinyanga municipal in Shinyanga

region. Shinyanga region is located in Lake Victoria province

bordered by Simiyu, Mwanza, Tabora, Geita, and Kigoma Regions.

The researcher selected this study area because the practices of

polygamous are so high according to his experience. Also he was

familiar with those congregations as he worked as an evangelist

for about ten years in different preaching points. Not only that

but no one had conducted this kind of research in this

congregations giving a sense that, the researcher feels

privileged to conduct a research in this study area.

3.5 Population, sampling methods, and sample size

3.5.1 Population

A population is a group of individual, person objects or items

from which samples are taken for measurement. From a statistical

point of view, the term population refers to the aggregate of all

cases that conform to some designated set of specifications

(Frank, 1996:179) In this research the target population is women

49

and men from polygamy family and from monogamy also the children

from polygamy family and from monogamy. It target also educated

and uneducated, peasant and employee.

3.5.2 Sampling method

According to Trochim (2005) sampling is the process of selecting

unit (e.g., people, organizations) from a population of interest

so that by studying the sample we may fairly generalize our

results back to the population from which they were chosen.

Kombo& Tromp, (2006:77) defines sampling technique as a procedure

a researcher uses to gather people, places or things to study.

It is the sample selecting processes. The researcher used simple

random sampling technique. The researcher selected 100 people

from Ebenezer and Angaza congregations. These included men and

women who are in polygamous marriage, and who are not, the

children- boys and girls who come from the polygamous families

and pastors.

3.5.3 Sample size

Kathari, (2004, pg. 56) defines sample size as the number of

items to be selected from the population to constitute a sample.

The size of the sample should neither be excessively large, nor

too small. This study will comprise of hundred people of which

twenty (20) adults men, twenty five women (25) who are already

engaged in polygamous marriage, ten(10) pastors five, fifteen

50

boys (15), fifteen (15) girls who are coming from the families of

polygamous

Marriage, (5) men and ten (10) women who are not involved in

polygamous marriage.

51

Table 1: Sample Size

GROUPS NUMBERS PERCENTAGE (%)Polygamous Men 20 20Polygamous Women 25 25Boys from Polygamy 15 15Girls from polygamy 15 15Non Polygamous Men 5 5Non polygamous Women 10 10Pastors 10 10TOTAL 100 100

3.6 Data collection

Kothari (2004, pg. 95) defines data collection as the action of

researchers to get information about the research problem. There

are two types of data collection which are primary data and

secondary data. Primary data are those which are collected fresh

and for the first time, and thus happen to be original in

character. Secondary data are those which have already been

collected by someone else and which have already been passed

through the statistical process. They are found in books,

research reports, magazine, etc. they must be relevant to the

subject, reliable in terms of accuracy and authoritative.

Instruments which were used by the researcher of this study for

data collection include the questionnaire, interview and

observation. The researcher collected both data by distributing

questionnaire to respondents (those who can read and write) and52

also talked to the respondents face to face in order to take

accurate, detail, clear and precise information. The interviews

were unstructured for the researcher to be flexible and

considerate of the respondents’ feeling and emotions. The

observation methods were also used when travelling throughout

Ebenezer and Angaza congregations on couples under polygamous

marriage.

3.7 Data processing and analysis

The collected data were processed and analyzed through

qualitative technique. To facilitate the analysis of data the

researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)

3.7.1 Data processing

The researcher processed data through editing and coding

Data editing; this is the process of examining the collected raw

data to detect errors and omissions and to correct where

possible. The data obtained from the field should be accurate and

consistent with other fact gathered, uniformly entered and as

complete as possible.

Data coding: this refers to the process of assigning numerals or

other symbols to answer so that response can be put into a

limited number of classes or categories. This process was

necessary to the researcher because it made analysis efficient

and through it several replies were reduced to the small number

53

of classes which contain the critical information that was

required for analysis. The data obtain were assigned numbers and

letters for easy interpretation.

3.7.2 Data analysis

Data analysis is the process of bringing order, structure and

meaning to the mass of information collected. Kothari, (2004, pg.

122) explains data analysis as a method that “involves a number

of closely related operations, which are performed with a purpose

of summarizing the collected data and organizing data in a manner

that they answer the research question”. During data analysis,

tables were used to summarize demographic data and interpret the

data collected.

3.8 Research limitations

The researcher predicted to encounter some problems like financial

constraints, time factor, and respondents’ attitudes towards

traditional beliefs of the respondents. The researcher had a

control over of all the above limitations. He collected data during

his holiday and used research assistances to collect data. In this

way it saved time and financial resource.

3.9 Ethical consideration

Ethical consideration means respecting the professional, culture

and moral aspect of the people involved in research and not

destroying their moral aspects. The study involved people who

54

have culture and moral aspects. The researcher respected the

professional culture and moral of the people of the study area

and he knows the use of information in a way that directly or

indirectly affects respondent is unethical. As a researcher I

need to make sure that, the information used are appropriate and

precisely not affect the people. Also researcher has an

obligation to use appropriate research methodology in conducting

the study. He know it is unethical to use inappropriate way of

conducting research such as selection of highly biased sample or

drawing wrong conclusion.

55

CHAPTER FOUR

4 RESEARCH FINDINGS

4.2 Introduction

The study aimed at investigating on the causes and impact of

polygamy to the community: a case study of Ebenezer and Angaza

congregations of the ELCT, Diocese of South-East of Lake

Victoria. The purpose of the research was to find out the causes

that contribute to polygamy and the impact of polygamy to the

community members at Ebenezer and Angaza congregations.

Furthermore the objectives of the study were to investigate how

people understand polygamous marriage, investigate factors which

are contributing to polygamous marriage at Ebenezer and Angaza

assess the impact of polygamy to the community and find out ways

that may minimize the polygamous marriage at those congregations.

4.3 Demographic data of respondents

Data regarding the basic information of respondents were

collected. The data were necessary for the purpose of comparing

different responses between categories of respondents. The

section presents the findings regarding the gender, age,

educational level, occupational, and religious status of

respondents.

56

4.3.1 Gender of respondents

Question 1 of the questionnaire asked the respondents about

their gender. The result of the study indicates that the gender

of respondents, 50 (50%) were male and the same percentage were

female.

4.3.2 Educational level of respondents

In question 2 of the questionnaire the respondents were asked to

indicate their educational level. The education level of

respondents is shown in Table 2 below.

57

Table 2: Education level of respondents

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL NUMBERS PERCENTAGE

Primary level 66 66Secondary Level 24 24Post-Secondary

level

10 10

TOTAL 100 100

Of 100 respondents, 66 (66%) had primary school level of

education and 24 (24%) had secondary school educational level. A

minority of respondents, 10 (10%), had post-secondary level of

education.

4.3.3 Age of respondents

Question 3 of the questionnaire asked the respondents regarding

their age. The range of age of the respondents and their

corresponding gender is given in the Table 3 below.

Table 3: Age range of respondents

Age range 30 years

and Less than 30

years

Age range 31 to 49 Age range 50 and

above

Male Femal

e

Total Male Femal

e

Total Male Femal

e

Total

16 16 32 18 22 40 12 16 2858

16% 16% 32% 18% 22% 40% 12% 16% 28%

A small majority of respondents, 40 (40%), their age ranged from

31-49. The Table also indicate that while 32 (32%) of respondents

age range were 30 years and below, 28 (28%) their age ranged from

50 and above.

59

4.3.4 Religious status of respondents

Table 5; religious statusReligion Number of

respondentsPercentage

Christian 43 43%African tradition 47 47%Islamic 10 10%

The research indicates that the majority of the respondents were

traditional religion as they comprise 47% of all respondents.

Christians hold 43% while Islamic religion contribute 10%

4.3.5 Occupation of respondents

Table 6; occupation of the respondentsOccupation Number of respondents PercentagePeasants 70 70%Employees 12 12%Business 18 18%Total 100 100%

The table above mention 70 people which occupy 70% as the peasant

and 12 people, means 12% of these two parishes as workers and 18

people which contribute 18% of the people are businessman/woman

4.4 Data presentation

In this section the data collected to the respondents through

questionnaire and interviews are presented. The presentation

follows the objectives of the study and categories of

respondents.60

4.4.1 People’s understanding of polygamous marriage

Under this objective, the researcher developed some questions so

as to investigate people’s understanding of polygamous marriage.

Three questions of both questionnaire and interviews were asked

regarding how people understand polygamy. The responses to these

questions are summarized below.

Question 6 of the interview asked respondents about their

understanding of polygamous marriages. The respondents

understanding of polygamous marriages is described in Table 7

below

Table 7 what do you understand about polygamous marriage?

RESPONSE NUMBERS PERCENTAGE (%)Marrying more than

one woman by the

same man

85 85%

Married to more than

one man by the same

woman

4 4%

Married one man to

one woman

5 5%

Not sure 6 6%TATOL 100 100%

The findings show that 85 (85%) of the respondents advocated for

polygamous marriage as a practice of which a man marries more

61

than one wife, 4% indicated that polygamy is when a woman is

married to more than one man, further 5% showed that polygamy is

when one

man marries one woman. 6% of respondents don’t know what polygamy

is. This result shows that polygamy was a common practice even

though today people have changed their mindset and see polygamous

marriage as primitive custom.

4.4.2 Factors contributing to polygamous marriage

at Ebenezer and Angaza congregations

Table 8; If polygamy is marrying more than one spouse, why marry

many women/men?

RESPONSE NUMBERS PERCENTAGE (%)To reduce the number

of unmarried women

18 18

For prestige and

earn respect

28 28

Source of income and

cheap labor force

38 38

For birth control 16 16TOTAL 100 100SOURCE: Researchers Findings 2013-14

According to the findings above, it was found out that 18% of the

respondents believes that people involve in polygamous marriage

so as to reduce the number of unmarried women in the society, 28%

noted that it is done just for prestige so as to gain respect

62

from the community, 38% asserted that many people are engaged

into polygamy so as to get cheap labour force and increase their

financial source and 16% asserted that it is done for birth

control either when the woman is pregnant, in her menstrual

period and sick

4.4.3 The impact of polygamy to the society

Under this objective, the researcher also developed some

questions that would assess the impact of polygamy on society

Table 9 What are some of the advantages of polygamy in your family or society?

RESPONSE NUMBER PERCENTAGE (%)Increased labour

force

24 24%

Respect in the

society

21 21%

Increased income 12 12%Security 11 11%Promoting lineage

(having many

children)

20 20%

Sexual satisfaction

and birth control

12 12%

TOTAL 100 100 SOURCE: Researchers Findings 2013-14

According to the above findings, 24% asserted that the

advantage they get from polygamy is increased labour force in

63

the family, 21% noted earning of respect from the family as

the advantage they get, 12% believed that polygamy increases

their income in terms of dowry, increased agricultural

production, 20% asserted that polygamy promotes lineage of the

family as they are sure of who will inherit the family name

and properties after death and 12% noted that in polygamous

marriage they get a continuous sexual satisfaction while

keeping the taboos, and birth control.

Table 10: What are disadvantages of polygamy in your family or

community?

RESPONSE NUMBER PERCENTAGE (%)Disease like

HIV/AIDS

22 22%

Poverty 19 19%Jealousy among co-

wives

11 11%

Women reduced to

object of sex

13 13%

Conflicts between

co-wives and

children

17 17%

Reduce In adequate

support for wives

and children

18 18%

TOTAL 100 100SOURCE: Researchers Findings 2013-14

64

According to the above table, 22% noted that disease like

HIV/AIDS is the disadvantages of polygamy, 19% noted increased

poverty, 11% asserted that polygamy introduces chronic jealousy

among co-wives, 13% confirmed that polygamy reduces women sexual

object as they are to always satisfy their husbands needs, 17%

believes that polygamy increased family conflicts among wives and

multiple children and 18% asserted that polygamy reduces parental

support for the family since the increased population will over

way the man’s capacity to provide for his homes and families.

4.4.4 Strategies that could be adopted to minimize

polygamous marriages

Under this objective the researcher also developed questions that

helped to develop and suggest necessary solutions to polygamy in

Shinyanga Ebenezer and Angaza in Shinyanga society.

Table 11; what are some solution to polygamy in your community?

RESPONSE NUMBER PERCENTAGE (%)Education and

awareness on danger

of polygamy

31 31%

Abolition of

customs like widow

inheritance

29 29%

Awareness on gender

issues

18 18%

Illegalization of 22 22%

65

polygamy TOTAL 100 100%

According to the table above, 31% of the respondents suggested

that education and awareness on danger of polygamy as an

immediate solution, 29% asserted that customs like widow

inheritance should be abolished so as to reduce on polygamy in

the society, while 18% called for strong awareness on gender

issues among both men and women so as to understand the worth of

women in the society and 22% strongly argued that polygamy should

be illegalized. The researcher noted that the majority who

suggested this were the women.

4.4.5 Strategies that could be adopted to

minimize polygamyTable 12 what are the best channels for solving the issues of

polygamy?

RESPONSE NUMBERS PERCENTAGE (%)Churches ministry 39 39%Government laws and

policies

27 27%

Customs and

Traditions

20 20%

Non-Governmental

organizations

14 14%

TOTAL 100 100%

66

SOURCE: Researchers Findings 2012-13

According to the table above, 39% of the respondents noted that

church ministry in the best way to promote movements against

polygamous marriage, 27% suggested government laws and policies

as the best way since the government has the power to illegalize

the act while 20% asserted that customs and tradition are the

best ways since it is a traditional practice and thus traditional

leaders have the right power to convince men and women to stop

polygamy and 14% asserted that Non-Governmental organization are

best channels for dealing with issues of polygamy since they are

in grass roots and the right ones to promote gender sensitive

issue

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS

5.1IntroductionThis chapter presents the discussion of the findings obtained

from the framed objectives of this study. Open question,

structure interview and questionnaires were applied in this

study. The presentation of findings follows the sequence of

specific question as have been developed from specific research

objectives. The objectives as they have been mentions is; to

investigate how people understand polygamous marriage, to

investigate factors that are contribute to polygamy at Ebenezer

67

and Angaza, to assess the impact of polygamy to the society and

to find out ways that could minimize it. In general the study

conducted in Southern East of Lake Victoria Diocese of the

E.L.C.T probably in two parishes of Shinyanga Ebeneza and Angaza.

5.2 Objective one: To investigate how people understand

polygamous marriage

According to the findings, people from Ebenezer and Angaza come

with almost the same understanding about polygamous marriage.

Through investigation few people understand polygamy as a

marriage of more than one man to the same women. Very few they

didn’t understand what polygamy is. Majority of the people

defined polygamous marriage as a form of marriage that involves

multiple spouses. So they understand that Polygamous marriage is

the practice of man taking on responsibility of two or more

wives. Regina identify in detail the meaning of polygamy by her

own example by saying, “my husband decided to marry another wife

to assisting us in tending and farming when the livestock

multiply almost three times. We are three, we share one husband.

(Tungu, R. 2013). Also my discussion with Maganga the standard

seven students said, “I prefer polygamy life as my father.

Maganga said, “My mother is the fourth wife to daddy. I respect

my mother and all others because they are my father’s wife. In my

adulthood I will prefer polygamous life as my father. Polygamy

marriage is the practice of one man to hold more than one wife

(Mahona Maganga 2014). When I was young growing with my fellow

children, I lived with three women without recognizing exactly68

who my real mother is. Later I recognized they are all my

father’s waves and my real mother is the second one. (Mama

Masanja 2013) polygamy is the act of man to have four or more

wives and each wife have children (Mawazo 2014) polygamy is the

name given to the man or woman who has more than one spouse.

(Tandika, 2014) Lange told the researcher that polygamy is the

state of men to discriminate women by taking them and keep them

under one roof as his children. These women share one man in

everything. They share sex, health, disease, house, farm, etc.

this is not fair. At this modern world I don’t think if polygamy

is a good practice. (Lange 2014) This study reveals that people

of Shinyanga Ebenezer and Angaza know exactly what polygamy is

about. They agree with scholars like George et al (1995), Conklin

(1984) and Macionis (1993) who all asserted that polygamy is kind

of marriage that involves getting married to multiple spouses at

the same time, be it a man or a woman.

Furthermore, Paulina argued that, people usually talk of

polygamous marriage when they mean a man having many wives is

either legally or traditionally known in the community. But in

reality there are some men and women who are not put into

consideration especially those who are engaged in sexual

relationships secretly. Some women and men are having secret

affairs with men outside wedlock. These people are not included

in polygamous marriage. In the area I live there are many men

involved in sexual relationship secretly but after child born

everything be openly so raise conflict with their wives! Not only

69

men, but also there are many women engaged in this habit and when

they conceive and give birth out of wedlock the conflict rise.

The habit of going out of wedlock create some definition to the

young that there is no bad for man or woman to have another

spouses out of wedlock and this idea result to polygamy when they

mature and marry. Actually some men are so greedy. Even though

they are polygamy with four wives still they go outside their

wedlock. Men should know that if they live according to the need

of their bodies they will never satisfy it. Every day these

greedy men find that the woman in front of them is pretty than

they saw yesterday. People need to stop this practice in order to

reduce unnecessary conflict and be able to take care of their

families including sending children to school and even build good

living houses of which today they still build temporal houses.

(Shija Paulina 2013) According to the study, it seems that people

in the study area understand well what polygamy is but people do

not have enough knowledge of polygamy practices although they

exercise it. Many people seem that they accept the practices as a

culture and common thing but they don’t really know the ground of

it in African perspective or even Islam perspective.

5.3 Objective two: To investigate factors which are contributing

to polygamous marriage at Shinyanga Ebenezer and Angaza

This objective identifies the reasons why people get involved in

polygamous marriage. According to this study some of the reasons

mentioned by the respondents are; to reduce on the numbers of

unmarried women, prestige and respect, cheap labor force, birth70

control, source of income. However, other interviewed respondents

mentioned other factors like bareness, lack of sexual

satisfaction in marriage and search for male child as an heir as

the cause of polygamy in Angaza and Ebenezer

Culture and religion

The findings of the study confirm that culture and religion is

one of the most thing promote polygamy in Ebenezer and Angaza.

Culture allow men to merry many wives as he desire without the

consideration of how this man will manage to care their waves

financially, economically and sexually and how will fulfil the

rights of the big number of their children in their families.

Islam allow men to merry up to four women but put stringent

conditions on a person who wanted to marry a second wife. He must

be able to provide and maintain the family, and also deal with

both on basis of justice and fairness. Surah an-Nisaa chapter 4

verse 3.

The problem of children

The barrenness of my wife forced me to marry polygamy. After six

years on my marriage without child I decide to marry another

woman in order to get children to heir and taking a spiritual

responsibility as a priest who should give traditional medicine

to the sick and protect their families’ from evil things the work

which I inherit from my father and I wish to be inherited by my

own son (Membe 2014) Not only to have children, but to have many

children. Many men in Sukuma tribe wishes to have many children

71

for many reasons like prestige, work supporters, promote culture,

building strong family and clan, enough helpers in old age, and

to keep his name for many years ahead. This idea relates to

Mbiti who argue that one of the greatest things that comfort a

person in the world or society is having a child. In African

perspective one of the greatest aims of getting married is to

bear children. The supreme purpose of marriage according to

African people is to bear children, to build a family to extend

man existence. Through marriage and child bearing, their children

remember the parents when they die so marriage are intimately

linked up with the religious beliefs about the continuation of

life beyond death. These children are expected to extend the

family and then form a clan and even pass a generation to another

generation. Once a marriage lacks children it is seen as if it is

a curse from God and therefore is not perfect. Mbiti (1989: 104-

105)

In the research area the researcher confirms that men will engage

in polygamy if they have not been able to get male children with

their present wives. This is much practiced by men who usually

assume that the problem is from their wives. Sofia said she

fallen into polygamous because she could not bear male child even

though she have got six girls. I lived with my husband for more

than ten years without having male child. My husband starts

complaining about the heirs of his wealthy after death. He decide

to marry another wife for the purpose of getting sons for been

heirs. He succeeds to marry and now, with his new wife he has two

72

sons. Therefore, men are polygamous because they need to get

heirs to their properties after death or getting someone who will

support them during their old days. (Mabula Sofia 2013) This view

goes hand in hand with the view of the book, “Christian approach

to social and ethical issues. In the book page 35 cites, “In

African traditional male children have generally been given

special honour and been valued much more than girls. People

believe that a boy is a one who can inherit the family or the

father’s properties and he will carry his name to the subsequent

generation. Generally in most African families will be

comfortable to have all children being boys, but if they are

girls only, they become uncomfortable assuming that their names

won’t be taken into the subsequent generation. Not only to have

children, but also to get many children.

.

Increase productivity

Moore, argued that women are needed in many activities especially

in farms, so men decides to engage in polygamous marriage in

order to have wives who will help them in their activities.

Moore, (1997, pg 19) This view is in line with Matondo who claim

that, “my wife and I failed to care about livestock which rapid

rise in number from 7 cows and 10 goats to 21 and 50

respectively. I decide to add wife to assist us in tending and

shepherd also in farming activities. (Matondo j, 2013)

73

The view of having several wives for the case of economic and

production join hand by Tano who says, “due to the more land men

be forced to marry polygamy that he can produce more food for his

house hold and surplice which he can sell and achieve a high

status due to the wealth which he obtain. (Tano K, 2013)

. The larger the family enables to produce more food. When you

talk about several wives means you talk about several children in

that family. So by combine the effort of his sons, daughters and

wives he may gradually expand his cultivation and livestock so

become more and more prosperous. A man with a single wife has

less help in cultivation and tending cattle. (Makayula, 2014)

This view is closed with the (Boserup, 1970) who argue that

plural of wives is an agricultural asset since a large number of

women make it unnecessary to employ wage laborers.

Furthermore Fadhili argue that in Sukuma community to marry

polygamy is prestige. Traditional way of life motivates men to

marry polygamy. Polygamy means children in the family with

different woman. According to Sukuma culture, this is the kind of

being respected (Fadhili 2014)

Ester critically opposes the idea that men marry polygamy for

the purpose of economic and production. This is not true. I argue

because when my husband married the second wife, our economy

start to decrease due to the increasing number of the family

member. (Ester, 2013)

74

Sexual greediness

Tegemeo in our discussion about the cause of polygamy says, among

of things that I expect when I enter in marriage is having sexual

intercourse with my dear wife The time when my wife fails to

satisfy me sexually according to her long illness forced me to

start relationship with another woman and finally find myself

marrying polygamy (Tegemeo, 2014)

Dickson and Leming argued that men needed polygamous marriage in

order to have sexual enjoyment and mixture of mates. Dickson and

Leming (1995: 43) This argument supported by Ester who argued

that in Mwagala word, men always seem to be sexually greedy as

compared to women. That is why they always think of having sexual

intercourse outside marriage with a hope that they will have a

different taste. This tendency of being unsatisfied and not

satisfying others has been common among married individuals at

Mwagala where others on their way of testing different test

leading them to have polygamous marriages practice and led them

into suffering for their decision. Not only that, but many women

are aware due to their husband’s greediness, fear that in their

way searching for different test, possible they may fall into the

diseases like HIV/AIDS and bring it to the family and cause

danger. Men should know that to be faithful in marriage affairs

is something very unique, special and important in the life of

human being. Men should not be careless at this area. Others go

outside the wedlock by thinking that their partners become old,

75

weak and out of date so they cannot play sex as they wish.

According to the research, men use many time drinking local brew,

eating nyama choma and play bao instead of working as their

fellow partners. Drinking, eating and playing bao make men’s body

to gain energy and as a result, make them to have a need of sex

all the time while hard working and careering the family make

woman to lose energy and as a result they lose also appetite of

having sex. If men want to enjoy sex all the time with their

partners they should firstly change their perspective about their

fellows and secondly they should make sure that they work

together hand in hand with their wives and take care about their

families. Most women who take these greedy men are either

unmarried, prostitute, divorced or separated. These women as

their fellow greedy men they use their time for drinking and

eating. So their bodies also have enough energy and as a result

have a high need of doing sex. So the high desire of doing sex

from men and high desire from women because of their body’s

fitness confuse men and think that their wives are out of date in

doing sex. They never recognize that their wives fail to play

well due to the hard working, careering of children and stress.

Mahalu asserted; “It is impossible to live with a woman who wants

to rule her husband. For me It is better I get married to a

second wife. That is why I married my second wife and now I am

comfortable (Mahalu J, 2014). This shows how in some marriages

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one of the couples thinks polygamy as a solution to marriage

conflicts.

To reduce the number of unmarried women

Actually in this community, men marry polygamous for a good

reason. The teaching of good behavior is among things which

traditional elders emphasize greatly. Traditionally, to marry

polygamy is to help women that they may not remain without men.

Community believes that if women remain without men are very

possible to engage themselves in prostitute behavior which is

shame to all community members. Better to marry them polygamous

rather than left them. (Masunga D, 2013). In many societies,

women are more than men. Polygamous is the only solution. It’s

the way of reducing the number of unmarried woman. It’s true that

every woman desire to have her own husband, but if men are not

enough, how could community do. Simply and good way is to marry

them polygamous. In Africa, since a long time, men married

polygamy but since then no man claim that he missed woman because

other take many women. God knows that men should marry polygamous

that is why women are much more than men. Women are many than

men because the rate of girls born is high than that of boys and

also women have a long life than men and this make the numbers of

women to be high than men all the time. Other things that

contribute polygamous due to the respondents are lacking of

education concern to marriage. Many young people inter into

marriage today without knowing anything concern to marriage. Lack

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of knowledge and training on the meaning of marriage and purpose

of marriage among the youth could end to polygamous marriage.

(Makusanya 2013) Frequently conflict among the couple end to

polygamy (Isaya 2014) polygamous also are causes by changing

place and environment. Men leave from rural area to the town or

city for job, there he find woman to care after his house. He may

bring that woman to his house only for domestic care but others

finally find themselves in polygamous marriage. (Ashura 2014) the

view of Ashura have being discussed by Ferrar who says in modern

times some workers, who live in the city, may prefer to have two

or more wives or more families, one on the city and another in

the rural area or home land (Ferrar 1992,2004)

In my discussion with Linda the mother of two disabled children

says that, “her husband decided to marry another wife by claiming

that I have being cursed by my parents so I could not able to

bear a perfect child. He married another wife for the purpose of

getting perfect child whom I fail to give him. The wonderful is,

when he married the second wife, that woman give birth to

disabled child the same as me. So men marry polygamous thinking

that through polygamy they will get solution to their problems,

instead they add more problems. (Linda 2014) In my interview with

Mwajabu, she says, “men all the time they want to act as a boss.

They want somebody not one but many people under them to rule.

When they fail to get someone under them to command, they marry

polygamy that they may have many wives and children under them

and have a chance to command in order to feel better.

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Ignorance and poverty among the people at Angaza and Ebeneza is

the other cause which bring people to polygamy. Even though the

education of primary schools in Tanzania is free in order all

Tanzanian may attend primary education, there are some children

in this area have never enter in the classroom, especially girls.

These girls have being married without knowing exactly what

marriage mean. Even though they conceive and bear children and

have other responsibility as the wife of somebody, but in reality

they do because of the need of culture and patriarchy way of life

and not the need of these poor young lady. Actually if you miss

knowledge of thing which you are dealing with, is like you are in

the forest but inside there are dangerous animals but you don’t

know. I think if this girl have being educated well they never

chose polygamous life. (Mawingu 2014) In polygamy areas, men have

a power to come in decision for almost everything in the house

without participation of his wife. Woman may try as she can by

hard working in order to gain the economy of the family but man

may sell what she produce and win money for the purpose of adding

another wife. (Ndutu 2014) Ending of menstrual cycle to women is

among the thing that respondents mention as the reason for

polygamy to the men. Salawe the mother of five children says her

husband desire more children while I could not give her anymore

due to my age. He decided to marry another wife in order to

fulfill his desire of getting more children. He married and now

he has gotten a baby boy. (Salawa 2014) Polygamy also caused by

selfish and untrue love which leads to misunderstanding in

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marriage. Almost 95% of reasons given by polygamist especially

men, shows clearly that men haven’t a true love to their wives

instead they take them as a vessels of enjoyment. For example men

complain that he should marry because of the long sickness of his

wife, or the time of menstrual or giving birth he can continue

having sex with his second wife or he only want a prestige. Those

reasons show how men love themselves and completely they don’t

have true love to their wives. True love leads to strong and long

lasting marriage and only death have a power to separate them and

not another women or men. Even in African traditional way of life

or Islamic religion, not all men marry polygamy even though they

have a chance to do so. This is because they have a true love to

their spouses and they don’t like to be separated by them or

their marriage be interacted by another woman. (Magobeko 2014)

5.4 Objective three: To assess the impact of polygamy tothe society

This objective assessed the impact of polygamy in society. The

respondents noted increase in income, increased labor force,

prestige and respect in the society, security and increased

number of children to promote the family linage as the advantages

of polygamy while increased disease like HIV/AIDS, poverty,

jealousy among wives, conflicts between children, reduction of

women to sexual object and lack of parental support as the

disadvantages of polygamy in the society.

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In my interview with Benadeta, she claim that, “I have been

affected by HIV/AIDS after my husband marry a victim of HIV.

(Benadeta 2013)

Eunice argued that, the man of four wives could not satisfy

equally all his wives sexuality and financially so the one who

not satisfied could find sexual satisfaction out of the wedlock

and very possible be affected by sexual transmitted diseases like

syphilis, HIV/AIDS and gonorrhea and bring it to the wedlock.

(Eunice Mganga 2013). These finding confirms Kyomo (2004), Ferrar

(1992) and Magesa (1998) who all asserted that polygamous

marriage is among the objects that causes HIV/AIDS.

On the other hand Malwa asserts that polygamous marriage was one

sided as it benefited only men as a result, women were regarded

as creatures to satisfy men sexually. (Malwa 2014)

In the study area the researcher recognized high increase of

jealousy and conflict among the co-wives due to the fails of man

to satisfy them equally and instead chose who to support and

neglect other or others. Furthermore the researcher has detected

that those who are in polygamous marriages may use much money

taking care of their families. In many cases families have been

suffering more because husbands fail to take care of all family

members equally. Sometimes people get many children whereas the

father may fail to accommodate them due to lack of resources and

hence causing their children to go to other relatives like

grandmothers, uncles and aunts. Hence they have caused serious

problem to the children and to those caring for them. Children in

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school have not been getting the required services and love, a

failure that prepares a generation that has no basis in economic

and intellectual affluence. Nothing they think of, that is

intended to develop the society, rather than are filled with

anger and immoral habits that results to what had been done to

them by their parents, some of them becomes very cruel when grown

for they lacked love and so may course destruction to other

people. In so doing poverty goes on shriving in different areas

due to polygamous marriages

The meeting with Adela reviews and show how some polygamous

families they suffer. Adela in our conversation said, “after my

husband marry the second wife he didn’t return back home for a

year. I suffer a lot with my five children. Finally I decide to

return back to my parent’s home with all my children. In my

father’s house also I suffer a lot due that my parents was very

old and my brothers didn’t accept my children for they said is

another blood so they should not live to their ardhi. In sukuma,

traditionally, especially in the study area, everybody have its

own father, so they should inherit from their fathers. (Adela M,

2014)

Polygamous marriage is one of the sources of conflict in the

families. Many woman and children in the polygamous families

remain in hardship when man dies especially if he dies before

arranging his property well according to his wives and children.

Farms, houses, livestock and other properties become the source

of conflict and disaster that it cannot be stopped easily. There

82

are some families they even use supernatural power to harm their

fellows. They may consult a medicine man like witches who may

send diseases and death to defeat their enemies. Probably they

may use spears like cutlass, arrow or javelin if they think

supernatural power fails. Not only that but after the families

split, the children of those families may lead to street children

and thieves in their way of searching daily bread or meet their

life needs and therefore in the long run leading to national

disaster and destroy development. (Heaven K, 2013) Culture mould

girls and boys in the community of polygamy to accept polygamous

life and as they grow up to maturity they know polygamous is the

only life everybody supposed to live in. Boys in polygamous

marriage are mostly likely to marry polygamy and also the same to

the girls. (Mawe 2013) polygamists have tendencies of marrying

woman younger in age compared to the previous one. The man of

four wives the fourth wife will be in big gap with her husband

due to the scarcity of his age mate as they are all married. Men

fear that their young wives go outside their wedlock so they try

to defend them and a result fall in regular conflict. In this

area mzee mabutu killed himself as he suspect his wife goes

outside of the wedlock (Masele 2014) this idea relate to Boserup

who says, “in polygamous society , the age of marriage will be

lower for female than in a monogamous society. With a relative

scarcity of possible mates of their own age, men seek wives among

women of younger ages. Early marriage in turn leads to much

higher rate of reproduction. Rather than delaying marriage and

83

childbearing until their twenties or thirties, women marry and

have children as teenagers. In modern social conditions teen

motherhood is detrimental for both these young women and their

families. For a female teen, marriage too much older man makes it

unlikely that she will have an equal partnership with her husband

and makes the completion of her education difficult if not

impossible. In deed marriage, at a young age to a much older man

is also linked to lethal domestic violence. In the words of one

study, “the larger the age gap, the more likely it is that a

husband will kill his wife and vice-versa (the young wife murders

her husband) this suggests that polygamous is relative much more

dangerous than monogamous relation because age gapes of 16 years

are not uncommon when accumulating young wives. (Boserup 1970)

The polygamy has existed in all Sukumaland to the fact that it

represents an aspect of their culture and religion. These types

of marriages have been more present in the whole history of

Sukumaland. One of the reason why this has happen is because

Sukuma tribe have managed to see that children were a form of

wealth and this way a family with more children was considered to

be more powerful. In this area Sukuma has been here for a hundred

of years and since then they practice polygamy and they continue

till now. (Masanja Maduhu 2014)

Hence, the government and the church should find ways how secure

and locate resources to help children who are born in polygamous

marriages in order to have education.

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5.5 Objective 4: To find out ways that may minimize polygamous

marriage at Angaza and Ebenezer congregations

Under this objective the researcher wanted to find out ways of

minimizing polygamy at Angaza and Ebenezer. This was due to the

fact that polygamous marriages has contributed too many problems

like; helpless children, increased poverty in the society, spread

of HIV/AIDS, and conflict between couples resulted from jealousy,

spiritual decay and lack of love among spouses. Therefore, the

respondents suggested the need for education and awareness on

danger of polygamy, abolition of traditional customs like widow

inheritance, creation of awareness on gender issues and

illegalization of polygamy in the society. The most important

thing in reducing polygamy in the society is education about the

danger of polygamy. The educators should make sure that the women

participation is high. (Rose 2013) This suggestion concurred with

Magessa (1998) and Ferrar (1992) who noted that bad traditional

cultures like widow inheritance, male child being given authority

to be the grand heir and education and awareness on danger of

polygamy and gender issues as the paramount solutions. However,

Fatuma calling upon the government to abolish the traditional

culture of women inheritance so as to reduce problems that they

are going through. (Fatuma Makoye, 2013). Gender issues are the

big problem in our community. My first daughter married at

fourteen to the father of thirty five, only because he hold a

number of livestock. So among the ways that we should use in

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order to reduce polygamous marriage is to educate people about

gender issues. (Neema Saye 2014)

Furthermore, the respondents suggested church ministry,

government laws and policies, customs and traditions and non-

governmental organizations as the best channels for teaching and

creating awareness among the community on the issues and danger

of polygamy.

In this area many people are in African traditional religion.

Culture allows men to hold wives as many as possible without care

the holder can satisfy them financially or not. This is a

problem. We think church can deal with this problem by witness

people to join church baptize them and continue to teach them

(Celina S, 2013). Government also should play part to their side

especially to abolish women heritage (Lazaro M, 2014). These

suggestions agree with Kyomo (2004) who strongly asserted that

government, church leaders and traditional leaders should channel

their strength and resources towards teaching people about

polygamy and promoting spiritual growth in the community.

Families with huge number of children may fail to provide proper

care. As an example they can lack education, clothing, medical

care, food which may lead to kwashiorkor. Eradication of

polygamous practices needs collective efforts of the church and

the society members at large. This cannot be a task of a single

person. People need education and they should be changed from

inside and not by force or otherwise. (Tatu Kauki 2014

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People need to realize that women need men likewise men need

women. All need one another. Therefore, there must be mutual

benefit to each other. Monogamy provides an answer to this

argument because if husband is sick, a wife will miss her

husband. The same to husbands if wives become sick, and then

husbands need to do the same. The question may remain unsolved if

men will continue showing greediness in sexual acts wanting to

have enjoyment alone. So the issue here is that, men should

change their perspective about women. They should not see women

as the vessel to satisfy them sexuality. (Ndaki A, 2014) Any

community should act as a light to their youth. In any culture,

community is the basic ground where youth learn good things as

well as bad behavior. Any culture has got norms and regulation

that everyone in the concern community should obey and follow in

order to discipline and shape the society. So elders and those

who are responsible to supervise these norms and regulations

should make sure that everyone in that community did as

regulation and norms are ordered. When we talk about community,

in fact we talk about people. There is no community without

people and verse-versa. If the people in that community deviate

norms and regulation of their culture, especially how to behave

oneself, there are direct effects to the youth and that effects

will affect the whole community. At resent years, different from

previous years, it seems that there are highly levels of norms

and rules deviation. A boy deviate rules by steeling somebody’s

properties in a community, and community members deviate rules by

87

killing that boy. It’s a normal thing today women and men in the

street walking drunkard. In previous years was very shame to the

community to see drunkard women passing through the street. Men

and women at that time they drunk, but they never drink alcohol

too much and they never drink at working time and they never take

alcohol at open space but always in their homes at evening or at

bed time. They do so in order to keep their norms and rules that

they may teach their youth not only in words, but also in their

deeds. They teach their youth how and why is very important to

obey, observe and keep norms and rules and how they should behave

themselves. Even the question of taking polygamy, rules teach

them that having many wives and children as the source of labor

or prestige go hand in hand with needs and demand. For husband

will be in responsibilities and should do and must do. Should

feed, educate, take care and do everything what is needed for

their families. It’s better now to make sure that, those norms,

rules and regulations should be followed proper. This is the

obligation of everyone in the society.(Nkya T,2014)

summary

the researcher has managed to make discussion about the general

understanding of polygamy the conceptual definition of polygamy,

to investigate the factors that are contribute to polygamy in the

community, to assess the impact of polygamy in the community and

to find out the possible ways of reducing polygamy in the

88

community. The researcher in this chapter has tried to obsorb and

applies facts from the field of the study and from other ideas

posed by many scholars and has pinpointed and suggested ways on

how to solve problems associated with polygamous marriages in the

community specifically focusing at Ebeneza and Angaza

Congregations.

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