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POLYGAMY IN BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH

Blossoms of the Savannah is a book by H. R Ole Kulet. The writer does seem to be at home with polygamy and that is why he beautifully models Simiren's home as a home of prosperity and love.

Polygamy is a common practice in Africa, especially among the political elite. Traditionally though it was the norm for a man to have more than one wife. However, with the advent of Christianity, society has adopted a monogamous way of life. Though on paper, and in keeping up with teachings of the Bible, many seem to have adopted monogamy, the practice of many wives is still prevalent. Some call them mistresses while in Kenya, we have MWK (Mpango wa Kando.) By extensions, we have newer models of 'slay queens' who may be in the category of the traditional class of concubines. With the growth of such 'out of the norm' institutions of marriage, one may hope that literature on polygamy will try to model it on the side of the disadvantaged cultural practices. Ole Kulet, however, feels different about this traditional institution of marriage.

When we come across Parsimei Ole Kaelo's simple nuclear family we are besieged with the discontent in the father for lacking a boy in the house. The family is also threatened by unemployment and therefore has to relocate to their rural town of Nasila. Furthermore, instead of a tightly neat happy family brimming with love, there is unequal love. The father seems to favour Taiyo over Resian(page10.)

Simiren's homestead is completely different from what we see in Parsimei's house. Although at first, Resian paints out what looked like competition (pg17) in the large family, we slowly come to see the respect and love dished out in the home. The inequality exhibited and care for young ones makes Taiyo and Resian feel at home in their uncle's home than how they felt when at their home(pg149).

Economically, Simiren seems to be quite at home with his large family. As opposed to Kaelo who solicits to make his economic stature reputable in the society, Simiren looks contented and his wives happy and vibrant. From Yeiyo Botor to Yeiyo Kiti, the wives are happily married. However, this speaks a lot about the place of a woman in the society but still, Mama Milanoi is mute in any matters concerning her home.

The families explored in the Blossoms of the Savannah are all affluent. All except Parsimei Ole Kaelo's are polygamous. As portrayed, it seems in Africa, affluence goes hand by hand with polygamy. And where women are submissive to their husbands like in Simiren's and Oluisudori homestead, there is a semblance of happiness and success. Within this confines, therefore, polygamy and affluence beats monogamy and therefore becomes an advantageous choice for the marriage institution. Monogamy presented by the likes of the greedy Parsimei suffers a great blow from the inequality espoused in the family that breeds unhappiness. Compounded by Parsimei's quest for power and affluence, the fate of his daughters would make one think twice before settling for a leaner family.

Ole Kulet, therefore, kills monogamy as a prosperous institution of marriage in a society where polygamy and communalism have been the norm.     

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