Abstract
The practice of polygyny (polygamy) is attested to in many parts of Africa. One reason among many for consolidating this practice in some African cultures is the emphasis families place on having male progeny. For many polygamous men, it serves as a way-out of childlessness and sonlessness. But what becomes of the childless wives in such polygamous marriages? In those patriarchal African societies, where men are at the centre of the stage, the plight of childless or sonless wives in a polygamous marriage often goes unnoticed or ignored. By using the childless ordeal of Hannah (1 Sam 1) to mirror the plight of childless women in some polygamous African families, this article highlights the sufferings of such childless women and makes a clarion call for an informed and just response to their plight. In addition, it calls attention to the silent ordeal of Hannah in 1 Sam 1; an aspect of the text that until now has received very little attention.
Highlights
The practice of polygyny is attested to in many parts of Africa
It serves as a way-out of childlessness and “sonlessness.” But what becomes of the childless wives in such polygamous marriages? In those patriarchal African societies, where men are at the centre of the stage, the plight of childless or “sonless” wives in a polygamous marriage often goes unnoticed or ignored
By using the childless ordeal of Hannah (1 Sam 1) to mirror the plight of childless women in some polygamous African families, this article highlights the silent sufferings of such childless women and makes a clarion call for an informed and just response to their plight
Summary
Polygyny (polygamy) is practiced in many parts of Africa.[1]. The emphasis placed on married men having [male] progeny, along with the presence and the deep rootedness of the Islamic religion in many parts of Africa are among the reasons that have consolidated polygyny in Africa. As Masenya rightly observes, the patriarchal African cultures affirm child/son producing wives, “as a married woman, she, of necessity, had to produce male children.”[34] In such patriarchal contexts, it is the women who often bear the brunt of childlessness or “sonlessness” and are branded “unfruitful.”[35] As a result, they run the risk of either losing their marriage or sharing their husband in a polygamous family with a “fruitful” co-wife. She gives birth to a child (which makes her a mother) but a son. Which such a child is born and a means of thanking God for his benevolence.[111] It is in this connection, that a childless Igbo woman would understand Hannah’s choice of the name Samuel for his son because “she has asked for him of the Lord.”
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