Isithembu facts for kids
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
- Some African tribes practice a simple form of polygamy. If a man marries one wife after another they have no rankings and are simply the number one wife, number two, and so on. Simple polygamy is one man (for example) married to two or more women.
Complex polygamy
- Isithembu as practiced by the Xhosa people is a complex form of polygamy. In this system a man's wives all have positions in the family. Where a man has two wives the family is divided into two branches called "estates". The household (wife, children, members of her family and servants) belonging to his first wife is called the "great house" (indlunkulu). His next wife's household is called the "Right hand house" (ukunene). If he takes a third wife, she and her children are affiliated to the great house. Hers is called a "support house" (iqadi). In some cases the third wife served the first wife as a servant before she was married. Should there be a fourth wife, she and her household are also iqadi and affiliated with the right hand house.
- The Zulu people also have a complex form of polygamy. A man's wives form a great house (indlunkulu), a right hand house (iqadi), and a left hand house (ikhohlwa). If there is a fourth or iqadi house, she does not have the same rights as the other three.
