In
Gambia polygamy is a widely accepted (if not a widely debated)
practice in The Gambia. Islam tradition allows a man to marry up to
four wives. They are usually referred to as co-wives. The highest
status wife is the first wife.
Usually a man’s first wife will be a woman about his same age, but
other wives who are married over the years tend to be much younger and
in some cases wives can be over half their age. Partly due to the fact
that older men marry the available younger women, men tend to marry at
an older average age (29) than women, who marry at an average age of
19. Polygamy is losing popularity among the younger generation of men
who see first-hand the economic ramifications of supporting a large
family on a limited income. This generation prefers to have just one
wife.
However, polygamy is only allowed by Islam if he can
support the extra partner otherwise it is forbidden. This rule has not
stopped many Gambians of the older generation marrying more that one
wife knowing full well they will run into difficulties. The reason for
this is because multiple marriages are seen as a status symbol in
Gambia.
In
Gambia polygamy is a widely accepted (if not a widely debated)
practice in The Gambia. Islam tradition allows a man to marry up to
four wives. They are usually referred to as co-wives. The highest
status wife is the first wife.
