Vol 2 No 1 (2024)
Articles
European Influences on Polygamy in Marriage Culture in Africa, 1900-1970: The Igbo Example
Published
September 21, 2024
Keywords
- European,
- Influences,
- Polygamy,
- Marriage and Culture
How to Cite
Ongele, F., & Adie, U. (2024). European Influences on Polygamy in Marriage Culture in Africa, 1900-1970: The Igbo Example. Advances in Law, Pedagogy, and Multidisciplinary Humanities, 2(1), 39-48. Retrieved from http://103.133.36.82/index.php/alpamet/article/view/748
Abstract
Polygamy is an acceptable institution in African culture and Igboland, in particular. Its practice remained relatively composed until the early 20th century when Christian missionaries with the support of the British colonial rule, ignorantly, raised hammer against it in the area. This study investigated and observed that both the polygamy and monogamy in the area were respectively, associated with economic and social values that were accentuated by the tradition and culture of the people. These values were what the Europeans and Christian missionaries of different denominations and appellations failed to venerate in their various encounter with the Igbo, for instance. They attempted to eliminate polygamy through altering marriage rules and giving preferential and fondness treatments to monogamous men. It was equally, discovered that in doing so, numerous negative effects, namely; increasing rate of infidelity in marriage, such as adultery, and death, increase in number of illegitimate children, excessive concubinary game among men, increasing spread of sexually related diseases, among others, were left on the people. This study as well, observed that there is nothing wrong with polygamy. It is a matter of understanding the tenet, its practice and the parties involved. Either monogamy or polygamy is not relevant to Christian salvation. Of course, the bible did not recognize any of them as being sinful. The work relied on both primary and secondary sources. Its data were analyzed qualitatively according to contents.
References
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Udo, I. L., & Udoh, M. (2023). Moral Education and Corruption in Nigeria: A Reflection on Plato's Counsel on Education. IILARD Journal of Humanities and Social Policy, 9(1), 1-12.
Udoh, M. O. S. E. S. (2013). Challenges and Prospects for Developing Scientific And Technological Attitude In Africa. African Journal of Culture, Philosophy and Society: Aworom Annang, 3(1), 7-15.
Udoh, M. O. S. E. S. (2013). The Place of Mythological Metaphysics in Social Control. Journal of Complementary Reflection: Studies of Asouzu, 3(1), 45-53.
Udoh, M. O. S. E. S. (2014). Socialization and Society: The Family System as a Basic Unit.
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Wamwara, J. J. (2019). A case for legalizing polygamy in Western societies: Lessons from the global South. Law & Ineq., 37, 75.
Witte, J. (2012). From sacrament to contract: Marriage, religion, and law in the Western tradition. Presbyterian Publishing Corp.
Zeitzen, M. K. (2020). Polygamy: A cross-cultural analysis. Routledge.
Archard, D., & Macleod, C. M. (Eds.). (2002). The moral and political status of children. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Arthi, V., & Fenske, J. (2018). Polygamy and child mortality: Historical and modern evidence from Nigeria’s Igbo. Review of Economics of the Household, 16, 97-141.
Camiscioli, E. (2024). Selling French Sex: Prostitution, Trafficking, and Global Migrations. Cambridge University Press.
Creary, N. M. (Ed.). (2012). African intellectuals and decolonization (Vol. 90). Ohio University Press.
Dogo, S. A. (2014). The Nigerian patriarchy: when and how. Cultural and religious studies, 2(5), 263-275.
Edet, J. E., Ugbe, R. O., Nabiebu, M., Alobo, E. E., & Ijiomah, A. O. (2024). From Sovereign Immunity to Constitutional Immunity in Nigeria: Reappraising the Gains and Pitfalls. Migration Letters, 21(S2), 615-625.
Faith, K. (2011). Unruly women: The politics of confinement & resistance. Seven Stories Press.
Godfrey, T. U., Uwa, K. L., & Akpan, A. (2024). Personality Traits and Academic Performance of Students in Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria. International Journal of Business and Management Review, 12(1), 21-37.
Goldingay, J. (2002). Approaches to Old Testament Interpretation. Clements Publishing Group.
Izekwe, A. C. (2015). The Future of Christian Marriage among the Igbo vis-a-vis Childlessnes: A Canonical cum Pastoral Study of Canon 1055 par. 1. Logos Verlag Berlin GmbH.
Jha, R. (2022). Love and Marriage in Africa in the Novels of Elechi Amadi, Buchi Emecheta and Chinua Achebe. Partridge Publishing.
Kimathi, G. (1983). Courting in marriage. Uzima Publishing House.
Makama, T. (2022). Cultural challenges faced by childless Basotho married women (Doctoral dissertation, National University of Lesotho).
Mbiti, J. S. (1990). African religions & philosophy. Heinemann.
Mohamed Kunhi, Z. (2024). Reclaiming Igbo womanhood: A study of select works of Flora NWAPA, BUCHI EMECHETA and CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE (Doctoral dissertation, Post Graduate & Research Department of English, Farook College (Autonomous) Kozhikode).
Muonwe, M. (2016). New dawn for African women: Igbo perspective. Xlibris Corporation.
Mwape, H. L. (2014). Investigating Seventh-day Adventist Church Members' opinion on Polygamous Men's Admisson in the Church, a case of Rwashi District (Doctoral dissertation, Adventist University of Africa, School of Postgraduate Studies).
Nyarks, A. (2006). Varieties of Anaang language. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. University of Uyo.
Nyarks, A. (2012). English Mirror. Use of English and Communication Skills. Uyo: Noble Publishers & Associates.
Nyarks, A., & Campus, O. A. (2022). The Linguistic Evaluation of Anaang Syllable Structures. International Journal of Formal Education, 1(8), 1-15.
Nyarks, D. A. (2022, August). Affixation: A linguistic strategy for language development, a case study of Anaang language. In " ONLINE-CONFERENCES" PLATFORM (pp. 140-149).
Okide, U. (2020). An Analysis of Authors’ Viewpoints on Interfemale Hostility in Selected Igbo Novels. Kenneth Dike Journal of African Studies (KDJAS), 1(1).
Okide, U. (2021). Perspectives on Cultural and National Development as Reflected in Two Igbo Poems. Lagos Notes and Records, 27(1), 96-113.
Okide, U. J. (2019). Inter-Female Hostility as a Cultural Behavior in Freud’s Theory of Aggression. Culture, Precepts, and Social Change in Southeastern Nigeria: Understanding the Igbo, 113.
Okide, U. J. (2021). Perception and Artistic Presentation of the Phenomenon of Death among Igbo Poets. Sapientia, 3(2), 245-263.
Okide, U. J. (2022). CHILD ABUSE IN THE IGBO FAMILY: AN ANALYSIS OF OSUAGWU’ S NWA NGWII PUO EZE. Nigerian Journal of African Studies (NJAS), 4(1).
Okide, U. J. (2023). Cultural Views of Wealth in Traditional and Contemporary Igbo Society: Perspectives from Maduekwe’ s †œEgo na-ekwuâ€. Nigerian Journal of African Studies (NJAS), 5(2).
Owa, O. E., Miebaka, N., Odey, S. A., Ugbe, R. O., & Alobo, E. E. (2024). Impact of the 2014 Pension Reform Act on Workers’ Commitment, Retention and Attitude to Retirement in Cross River State, Nigeria. Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 6(2), 293-301.
Thomas, D. (2022). The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970): New theories, old problem, fresh crisis. International Relations and Diplomacy, 10(3), 131-139.
Thrope, S. (2015). The genealogy of Abraham: the Zoroastrian critique of Judaism beyond Jewish literature. History of Religions, 54(3), 318-345.
Udo, I. L., & Udoh, M. (2023). Moral Education and Corruption in Nigeria: A Reflection on Plato's Counsel on Education. IILARD Journal of Humanities and Social Policy, 9(1), 1-12.
Udoh, M. O. S. E. S. (2013). Challenges and Prospects for Developing Scientific And Technological Attitude In Africa. African Journal of Culture, Philosophy and Society: Aworom Annang, 3(1), 7-15.
Udoh, M. O. S. E. S. (2013). The Place of Mythological Metaphysics in Social Control. Journal of Complementary Reflection: Studies of Asouzu, 3(1), 45-53.
Udoh, M. O. S. E. S. (2014). Socialization and Society: The Family System as a Basic Unit.
Udoh, M., & Umotong, I. (2013). Environment Sustainability and Renewablity. Elements of History and Philosophy of Science.
Uloma, O. V., Mbonu, C. N., Onuorah, A. C., Mbarah, G. O., Anyacho, E. O., Orji, M. B., ... & Eucharia, O. E. (2019). Culture, Precepts, and Social Change in Southeastern Nigeria: Understanding the Igbo. Rowman & Littlefield.
Wamwara, J. J. (2019). A case for legalizing polygamy in Western societies: Lessons from the global South. Law & Ineq., 37, 75.
Witte, J. (2012). From sacrament to contract: Marriage, religion, and law in the Western tradition. Presbyterian Publishing Corp.
Zeitzen, M. K. (2020). Polygamy: A cross-cultural analysis. Routledge.