Polygamy in Africa from a young Africans' point of view

I recently read an article online from a woman who was speaking about polygamy from a feminist, democratic and westernized point of view. I have no issues with those views at all, I'm feminist, democratic and I'm westernized. But you can go ahead and blame my parents.
So I decided that instead of blowing a gasket about how she is an imperialistic old fart who knows nothing about African cultural and traditional practices, and how she is a pompous, patronizing snob, I decided to just write an article to clarify a few issues.

Also known as many marriages, polygamy refers to a marriage situation where one person is married to more than one partner. This is acceptable in a large amount of societies world wide. Christian and Jewish faiths have outlawed this practice and it is less prevalent in countries where the majority of the citizens are either Jewish or Christian. I'm a Christian. Again, feel free to blame the parents.

Polygamy in Africa has been a cultural and/or a traditional practice for a very long time. Although some cultures, due to a level of westernization of religion will only look at it as old relic and outdated practice, it is still highly practiced in some societies and cultures.

This happens in many forms. For example in some African practices, when a man dies, his brother will inherit his wife and children. Therefore, if the brother was already married he's immediately find himself in a polygamous marriage with 2 wives and a handful of extra children. In South Africa, the Customary Marriages Act protects the woman if she does not want to marry the late husbands brother.

In other societies older women would select a younger female to be her husband's new wife in order to share the large amount of work load in the household.

Granted in some cultures polygamy is forced upon women, sometimes shockingly young girls are forced into this life. I personally condemn such practices and I pray that something is done as a matter of urgency to act against such practices. But in most cases all parties concerned are aware of what they are getting in to. In African cultures the First wife generally has a say on who the husband chooses as his second wife, and third wife and so forth. She has to approve of the woman before she is brought into the house.

Would I get into a polygamous union? No I would not. And not even the parents would, but they are the imperialized, westernized sort who would never think of imposing such an old relic into their beloved childrens' lives. But that is a personal choice. Just as much as I would not look down upon those who do practice polygamy. Many Africans are descendants of a family that has a history of sorts of polygamy. Not all people who come from such a household grow up to be polygamist. It is nobody's place to judge unless somebody has been forced into such an arrangement.

Polygamy is now battling to outlive the taboo status that some Europeans and the media has plastered on it. I wonder if any of them have ever thought about those women who actually want to be in a polygamous union. I'm not even talking about those young women in Swaziland who are all hoping to be the Kings 23rd wife or something.

As a South African i can't write something about polygamy and not mention the President. So here it goes;

President Jacob Zuma has Three wives (one more on the way) and at least 18 children. He has been Married 5 Times. One wife divorced him and one committed suicide.

Getrude Sizakhele Khumalo (Makhumalo) is hte official First Lady and Zuma's first wife, they have no children together.
Knosazana Dlamini Zuma has been a Cabinet Minister in Government since 1999. She divorced Jacob Zuma in 1998.
Kate Mantsho committed suicide in December 2000.
Nompumelelo Ntuli (MaNtuli) married Jacob Zuma in January 2008.

He has paid lobola (dowry) for Two other women. (he has two fiancees)

He has been at the receiving end of a lot of criticism about his family life, some from even the opposition parties. He seems happy enough with is arrangement though and all his wives are matured ladies with the ability to make their own decisions. South Africa is one of the highest ranking countries in terms of Human Rights, I doubt any of these ladies were forced int this union. I think that they are all capable of walking out should things turn sour. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma did just that.

Polygamy is allowed in South Africa, mainly because most of its cultures and traditions have been practicing it for eons and are still are. It won't be easy for any government to change that because its part of who we are as a Nation. What needs to be done though, is ensuring that young girls are protected from being forced into such unions and to ensure that women, young and old, are educated about this practice and that they are educated about their rights and responsibilities.

South Africa has legislation in place that protects everybody involved in such unions. Which is great, as long as it is implemented even at grassroots level and in the deepest of our rural areas, where knowledge and education are a bit scarce.