Isithembu

c. 1895

Isithembu means polygamy and is still a custom in many parts of Africa. Isithembu (also called Sethepu) is the African custom of a man being able to have more than one wife at the same time. There were and are several situations that allow a man to have additional wives. A man may marry again if his current wife or wives cannot have children. He keeps his current wife or wives as divorce is not allowed. She becomes the senior wife, a position of honor. A man may marry again if his current wife or wives have not produced male children. He can marry again if a wife does not want children. In some places, if a man dies, his wife or wives are married to his brother. This way his family is cared for. The Swazi culture says a man should have many wives. Polygamy (Isithembu) is normal for men. Woman should have children, which is normal for them.

Simple polygamy

Complex polygamy

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fezekile Futhwa, Setho: Afrikan Thought and Belief System (Alberton, South Africa: Nalane ka Fezekile Futhwa, 2011), p. 56
  2. 1 2 A. R. Radcliffe-Brown; Cyril Daryll Forde, African systems of kinship and marriage (London; New York: Oxford University Press, 1950), p. 89
  3. ↑ Diane J. Klein, 'Plural Marriage and Community Property Law', Golden Gate University Law Review, Volume 41 | Issue 1 (27 January 2011), pp. 45–47
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Customary marriages and estates". Ghost Digest. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2015.

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