Of polyandry and related matters...

By Mugambi Nandi

Polyandry, which is the practice of a woman taking two or more husbands at the same time, existed for many years, across all continents. In parts of India, polyandry is still practiced, albeit by a few tribes. In places where it was practised, it was justified by scarcity of resources, mainly land, and high male mortality and absenteeism, due to war and the search for food and pastures. It is common knowledge that among the Maasai, men of the same age group were free to share the hospitality of each other’s wives. The word hospitality here is used in its widest and most generous form, leaving nothing out that should be in.