From: sunny@al.cs.wm.edu (John S. Egbo)
Subject: Re: POLYGAMY: GOOD OR BAD???? (Was: Walt Mweene Disney does UCT
Followup-To:  shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu (Shiyghan Shemlon)
Organization: College of William & Mary, founded 1693
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 19:20:57 GMT


In Article <Nov.22.12.31.31.1992.18360@occlusal.rutgers.edu>, 
shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu (Shiyghan Shemlon) write:
>2. Throughout history polygamy has been practiced in almost every
>   culture, race and colour. So, the western stereotype that makes
>   polygamy to seem inherent to Africa is pure nonsense.

We must look at the Western culture critically to discover its hypocrisy.
Don't believe everything the West said about Africa that we all grew up
learning in schools; most of the bad image we know about Africa was 
developed by the West to justify their colonization and slavery.  It is 
sort of a way for them to feel good about themselves and what they were or
are doing.  There is a sharp contrast between African society in general
and the Western ones.

There are many examples.

a. Unlike Western societies that are hypocritical, Africans society
confronts human problems without pretentions.  The fact: in the West,
many men cheat on their wives and do other acts not publishable,
including bi-sexuality and homosexualilty.  Their men and women try to
maintain false images of who they are without confronting what their
society will NOT approve.  The Western societies are full of
NON-SOLUTIONS; many things get swept under the carpet.  Out of sight, out
of mind.  In the west, many men and women sleep around.  In African, a
married man can sleep with many women as long as it is after he done the
honorable thing and married her.  No Pretentions.

b. Polygamy in many African societies must be looked at in the context of
societal solution to problems.  Many African societies at the turn of
the century had more women than men.  What happened - Polygamy.  A 
solution, albeit not a perfect one.  The challenge for us is to find a
better solution than what our ancestors had instead of knocking it and
opting for a worst solution that is practised in the west.  What happens
in the West when a man (or woman) meets and falls in love with a woman
(or man) that is not his (or her) wife (or husband)?  Maybe it was not
supposed to happen.  Gravity!  Who is the engineer for this bridge? What
happens when unmarried couples have babies in the west?  Again the 
engineer is asleep.

c.  If homo-sexuality was to exist in Africa, the society will deal with
it.  But, what is homo-sexuality?  I never heard about it until I came to
the America.  I went to a boarding school during my secondary school and
never heard that men did men.  Again, if this existed in Africa, I can
assure you that high school kids will know about it.

There is this fundemental difference in the two cultures that all the 
western education conveniently ignore in its analysis; African culture
is a pragmatic one.

>3. Polygamy still exists today in all cultures, races and colours. The
>   manner in which it is practiced may differ from culture to culture,
>   country to country, race to race, or location to location. But it
>   exists in the America, Europe, Asia and Africa and will continue to
>   exist in one form or another as long as our civilization survives.

Well some society admit and deal with their problems.  Others try to 
pretend that problems don't exist.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african