Co-wife Bonding in Sue Nyathi's the Polygamist (2012) and Lola Shoneyin's the Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives (2010)

Abstract

This paper explores the portrayal of co-wife bonding and its impact in polygamy in Sue Nyathi's The Polygamist (2012) and Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives (2010) (hereafter referred to as Polygamist and Secret Lives respectively). The identity of women in polygamy, particularly that of the junior wife, often has a sense of inadequacy and inferiority. This often results into unending jealousies and co-wife rivalries. However, this paper argues that co-wives, perennially considered rivals, are capable of forming mutual and reciprocal bonds of friendship. The findings reveal that co-wife bonding is both marginal and key towards a transformation of the co-wives status quo in polygamous marriages in sub-Saharan Africa. Through the representation of this special bonding, the two authors are able to rediscover women in African Literature. By digging into the biographies of women brought together by the love of one man, the writers demonstrate that co-wives are not only vital figures in the peaceful co-existence of the African polygamous family but are promoters of the union. The special friendship that grows between co-wives in Polygamist (2012) and Secret Lives (2010) makes this especially clear, bridging the ever-widening gap separating the traditional narrative and modern perception of the identity of women in polygamy.