Essay On Polygamy In Africa
Preceding the arrival of Christianity and colonialism, polygyny is widely practiced in Africa, as it signifies the aspect of culture. More reason polygyny is prevalent in African homes is due to the fact that children are considered as a form of wealth by the society and a larger family is considered influential and powerful. Therefore this practice was deliberated as one of the way one could build an empire in Africa. It was after the era of colonialism in Africa that polygamy appeared to be a taboo as it was a norm in ancient times. Polygyny has been linked to the positive (the hustling and survival of the fittest spirit already instilled) and negative causes of child survival, but in general, high mortality and poor health are well-experienced in polygamous families. Comparatively, children from nuclear families are not vulnerable to the risk of mortality and nutritional deficiency before the age of five like children from polygynous families.
Polygyny signifies a peculiar cultural approach to marriage, reproduction and family and not just a single family structure. There is a huge difference in the prevalence of the practice of polygamy both within and between the sub-Saharan region countries. Situations in which polygyny is prevalent and tends to be socially, culturally and economically
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However, the sexual benefits are not the main functions, polygyny is reducing in Africa not as a result of the intervention of westernization but for the varying economy and the general usual cultural climate. Customarily, most African communities have experienced a custom polygamy. Prior to the arrival of Christianity in Africa, polygamy was not considered evil, the custom permits a man to marry as many spouse as he can cater and support, they are married agreeing to local customs and legitimate in the comprehension of local
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