Among a gathering of 2,000-plus well wishers, 67-year-old South African President Jacob Zuma (pictured above, wearing the leopard skins) married 36-year-old Tobeka Madiba (pictured dancing beside him) in a Zulu ceremony today. The sexagenarian made his vows before all of his current wives. Zulu traditions dictate that President Zuma's two wives had to approve of his bride and attend the wedding as well.
In addition, there are reports that a wedding to wife number four is just around the corner. The president's new fiancee, Gloria Bongi Ngema, took umbondo (wedding gifts) to the Zuma family last week, according to published reports. This ceremony is the last traditional event before a wedding and is done after ilobolo (dowry) has been paid to the bride's family.
President Zuma's slightly old-fashion beliefs in polygamy has caused quite a stir among his people. The older South Africans still hold on to the belief of having many wives, but the younger ones are dead set against it. The practice of polygamy is a point of contention in a society where interethnic civil tensions run high.
Besides having three current wives, the recently inaugurated president is divorced from one spouse and another committed suicide, making this his fifth trip down the aisle.
Traditional animal-skin-attired Zulu guests arrived in buses, and cows, sheep and goats were slaughtered for the tremendous feast that followed the wedding ceremony. The president's 19 children were also in attendance.
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By: OOOZZZZZ on 1/05/2010 9:45PM
South African President Takes on Wife No. 3 While Fiancee Waits & should polygamy should be outlawed?
No it should not because if the rules and culture of those countries/nations, which have been in affect for hundreds of years, make it possible to do so, who are we as Americans, as hypocritical as we are, to say otherwise?
And to that affect, why does the American Mormon religious faith. mainly in the state of Utah and Texas, allow polygamy exclusively but if any one else does it via their religious faith and beliefs, it's unlawful?
So the question is: is the practice of polygamy based solely on the teachings and religious intreperation of the Bible, Koran etc or is it man-made laws established because of that faith?
Forms of polygamy:
Polygyny - one man having multiple wives.
Polyandry - one woman having multiple husbands.
Group marriage - some combination of polygyny and polyandry.
Historically, all three practices have been found, but polygyny is by far the most common.
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By: BG on 1/06/2010 1:18AM
This is a country that is still nursing the wounds of apartheid. Regardless of the law that allows polygamy, can't the law of decency and morality prevails at times? I am from thesame culture but different country. My dad has 3. My mom pulled away from the cohabitation. My moms children are the most successful apparently pulling us away from the union. I witnessed a lot of antagonism and jealousy that in most cases, have a blow back effect on the children. But here, we have a PRESIDENT of a nation that is still finding itself under the leadership of a moron.
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By: Mssylady on 1/06/2010 12:38PM
Yes, the practice ought to be discontinued. Why? Because there is something unholy going on. That is why one wife committed suicide and another left. The wives who are agreeing to this are in my opinion are doing so because they believe if they don't, they will be punished in some way by the husband or are in their 60's and want to be left alone by this man who probably has weird habits and therefore now these women can live in peace and still be cared for by a husband which is the law.
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By: Vickiss on 1/06/2010 1:56PM
If polygamy increased the stability of black families and black marriage rates, would it still be generally looked down upon as a concept?
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By: Penny Washington on 1/09/2010 5:46PM
That dirty old man!
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