A Luo man with only one wife was never respected by elders

For several years, a man with one wife in the traditional Luo Community set-up was disrespected by his peers and considered incomplete.

Although polygamy is among the beliefs and practices that are rapidly disappearing with modernity and tough economic times, it is among the practices that elders discussed during the Luo Cultural event that was recently held in Homa Bay.

Discrimination against monogamous men could be seen during social gatherings.

The gatherings included drinking sessions. During such an occasion, the number of wives a man had determined where he sat.

Polygamous men sat far away from the door while their monogamous counterparts sat near the door.

During the Luo Cultural Extravaganza held in Homa Bay, elders explained why monogamous men sat near the door during important ceremonies.

According to the Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders in Karachuonyo Constituency Magayi Jonyo, a man with one wife was not allowed to sit far from the door to prevent them from dashing out and spilling alcohol on elders in the event they received bad news about their wife.

“If a monogamous man got information that his wife was seriously sick, he would dash out because that was the only wife he had. Such a man would break elders’ oseke (straw) and spill alcohol on elders on their way out,” Jonyo said.