In Nigeria, it’s frequent to see males with a number of wives and this apply, known as polygamy, is backed by tradition, faith, and even legislation.
However relating to girls with a number of husbands, often called polyandry, the principles change. In Nigeria, it’s unlawful, condemned, and unrecognised. Ought to what is sweet for the goose not even be good for the gander?
But, in 1978, equivalent twins from Ekiti, Kehinde and Taiwo Ogundipe, defied conference by marrying one lady, or maybe extra precisely, one lady married two males. Their extraordinary love story shattered custom, and tales of the bizarre union had been immortalised within the pages of Drum journal.
The Story of the Ogundipe Twins
In accordance with reviews, the Ekiti-born twins first met Patricia Adewuyi, a 24-year-old, in December 1976 at a palm-wine bar in Ijesha Tedo, Lagos. Two years later, their story was splashed throughout the pages of Drum journal. By then, Patricia had already given beginning to their son, Noah, and the trio had been dwelling as a household.
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Nonetheless, it was Kehinde who gained her coronary heart, and she or he accepted his proposal. Together with her British-born mom’s blessing, Patricia married him, solely to later uncover that Kehinde was a twin, and she or he was anticipated to be the spouse to each brothers.
Though Patricia was initially shocked by the association, she quickly adjusted and embraced it. Gossip about their uncommon marriage circulated, however they remained undeterred. In an try to make the union seem extra acceptable to society, Patricia later launched her sister, Pauline, to Taiwo, hoping he would marry her. Nonetheless, the twins firmly rejected the concept.
For the twins, Patricia was not their first shared spouse. They’d beforehand married Rosaline from Benin Metropolis, and although the wedding appeared promising at first, it was short-lived earlier than Rosaline ultimately abandoned them.
Within the interview in Drum Journal, Patricia stated she was fortunately married, and her mom additionally affirmed that she was equally completely happy along with her daughter’s marriage to each males. When requested why they all the time select one spouse, one of many twins defined:
We wished to point out the world that identical to one man can have many wives, twins can share issues to point out we’re one. God made us to be collectively in every little thing we do.
In Yoruba tradition, twins (often called ìbejì) maintain a sacred significance. They’re believed to share a religious connection deeper than the bodily; they’re thought of a twin soul break up between two our bodies. Kehinde and Taiwo in all probability took that perception to coronary heart, and so they went on to like and even father as one.
What’s Polyandry?
Polyandry is a uncommon type of polygamy the place a girl takes two or extra husbands on the identical time. In contrast to polygamy, the place one man marries a number of wives, a practice widely accepted in Nigeria, polyandry has been thought of taboo in most components of the nation. Nonetheless, it has existed in Nigerian historical past and custom.
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Other than the Ogundipe twins, Nigeria has recorded types of polyandry earlier than. Probably the most notable instance comes from the Irigwe (Iru) folks of Plateau State. Amongst them, women could traditionally have multiple husbands, known as co-husbands.
A lady rotated between her husbands’ properties, and the paternity of her kids was assigned to the person whose residence she lived in on the time. It was usually seen as a sensible answer to infertility, inheritance, and financial survival. The apply was formally outlawed in 1968 after the Irigwe council voted towards it.
Extra just lately, a viral video sparked debate when a girl in Ogoja, Cross River State, claimed to be married to a number of husbands. Within the video, she launched two of her spouses, Kelechukwu and Ikenna, whereas boasting about her 70 farms and her skill to take care of extra husbands.
Nonetheless, group leaders in Northern Cross River strongly rejected her claims, insisting that polyandry was by no means a part of Ogoja tradition. They described her story as deceptive and unrepresentative of their traditions.
Particularly, the convener of Who’s Who in Northern Cross River (WWNCR), Dr. DC Enamhe, expressed dismay on the viral video. He stated:
Evidently, the particular person within the video is clearly appearing a script and has little or no information of the land of Ogoja, its folks or its language…It’s worrisome that in a bid to generate clicks, a person would forged aspersions on the tradition and character of the whole folks of Ogoja, identified to be effectively educated with a deep rooted historical past of faith and tradition which has instilled morality over time.
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He condemned the mudslinging on the nice folks of Ogoja and demanded an apology from the skit maker. Whereas we aren’t positive if that apology ever got here, the Ogundipe twins’ marriage stays considered one of Nigeria’s most fascinating and unconventional love tales, a uncommon case of polyandry in a rustic the place the apply is now outlawed.
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