By Nanjinia Wamuswa
No woman in her right senses would entertain, let alone welcome, the idea of her husband marrying another wife. And if he went ahead and married one, it would be difficult for the co-wives to get along amicably.
But the case of Joyce Nanzala and Rukia Were is totally different. The two have surmounted the barrier of hatred and envy.
Ali Akeko, the bandleader and husband to both Joyce and Rukia
In fact Joyce, the first wife, welcomed Rukia with open arms. Besides being co-wives, the two were born and brought up in the same village in Khalaba Location, Matungu constituency in Western Province.
Like their husband Alia Akeko, leader of Meketho Band, Nanzala and Were are also musicians and members of the same band.
The amity the co-wives enjoy is the subject of discussion and amazement in the village and beyond. Though their relationship might look weird to many people, especially women, to them everything is perfectly normal. According to Nanzala, their compatibility has courted much envy.
"We are being envied because besides sharing and loving our husband to death, we share everything like sisters. We also love each and every one of our children," says Nanzala. She adds, "Being co-wives many people expect us to quarrel all the time, something we donât do. Some have come up with theories that our unity is unnatural and that our husband must be using some magical powers to keep us together."
Rukia dismisses the theories. She says people are free to think and come up with theories as they wish, genuine or false. To her, it wouldnât matter if the glue that holds them together were magical powers. "What matters to me or us, is that we love each other and everyone has realised it. They are also free to use the very powers they have in mind so long as they will give them happiness," says Rukia.
Although each has her own house, when it comes to cooking, each woman takes her turn for the whole family. For example ,if one handles lunch, the other would take care of supper. If one is out, the entire family depends on the one around.
Akeko says that heâs taken charge of his family. He says, "I always tell my wives we have short lives in this world. They need to love and relate to each other well. If anything, they are best placed to assist each other at times of crises before neighbours join them."
