Orogún: Interpreting 1 Samuel 1:6–7 in the Context of Polygamy among the Yoruba of Nigeria

Abstract

In 1 Sam 1, Elkanah has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah; Hannah is barren while the latter has children. The encounter between the two wives is reminiscent of the orogún phenomenon which is prevalent among the Yoruba of Nigeria. The term orogún designates the rivalry that exists between co-wives in polygamous families. While most studies relating polygamy to Christianity in Nigeria emphasise its disadvantages, this article differs in that it uses 1 Sam 1:6–7 to encourage the church to manage polygamy among its members since it cannot be eradicated. Historical criticism, narrative analysis, and the descriptive and phenomenological methods were used. The study found that although polygamy was never prohibited in the Hebrew Bible, polygamy had several negative effects. Before the advent of Christianity in Africa, polygamy was the common form of marriage. The Christian missionaries tried unsuccessfully to eradicate it. In contemporary Nigeria, polygamy subsists in most denominations to the extent that it constitutes a source of marital disharmony among Christians. Among the Yoruba the disharmony is conspicuous in the orogún phenomenon which, like the Hannah–Peninnah relationship, is characterised by rivalry and enmity among the co-wives and their children. The church in Nigeria, therefore, needs to intervene in the crises of polygamy among its members since the practice has not been eradicated. In this intervention, the church needs to note that the Bible does not prohibit polygamy, and therefore there is no basis for denying membership to polygamists. In addressing marital disharmony arising from polygamy the church needs to educate spouses regarding the biblical precepts of fault acceptance and forgiveness as well as submission and love between husband and wife.