African Judaizing movements and the question of polygamy: Perspectives from Cameroon

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article examines the theological, cultural, and socio-historical underpinnings of the custom of polygamy as it is practiced among so-called “Judaizing” movements in rural Cameroon. As a case study of one of the rarely discussed ideological points of contention between such Sub-Saharan African communities and the Global Northern Jewish communities that sponsor, support, or encourage them, this essay analyzes how neo-Jewish perspectives surrounding the practice of polygamy can help to illustrate the myriad ways in which normative, modern-day Jewish practices are sometimes inherently contradictory to accepted notions of propriety held by members of emerging Jewish communities from the Global South.