December 6, 2005--Nine Wives Club
I’ve only been married only twice so who am I to comment. But when I read the piece recently in the NY Times about what’s going on in Kenya among the legendary Masai people, I decided I needed to take the risk and weigh in (see article linked below).
It seems that it’s getting to be quite the thing among some members of the jet set to find a Masai nomad to marry—not just visit as part of a safari but to find someone with whom to share wedded bliss. And it’s not exactly what you’re probably thinking—that a rich westerner who wants a compliant, traditional, and exotic wife mail orders one from Asia or Africa. More typically here we find western and Asian women looking for a Masai man to marry.
For example, Maki Nagamatsu, a Japanese tour guide, recently married Jackson ole Seyio, becoming his second, second concurrent wife. As part of her agreeing to marry him, Mr. Seyio assented (1) that she can continue to work as a tour guide; (2) he will not marry a third wife; and (3) he will not cut off the genitals of any girl child they might have. Sounds like a good deal to me.
Another example—Noted French anthropologist Jacqueline Roumeguere-Eberhardt has been married to a Masai man for nearly 40 years and, in addition to studying the indigenous cultures of Africa, has been working on her memoirs. The working title is The Six Wives of My Husband. While dickering with the publisher, who wants it to be a tale of jealousy and betrayal, its publication has been delayed. She has been resisting turning it into a Soap Opera. The publisher has finally relented and the book is now making its way to press. But it has a new title—The Nine Wives of My Husband since during the time she has been negotiating with the publisher her husband has married three more women.
When I learned about the typical Masai wedding it made it easier for me to understand the attraction of these cross-cultural unions. From my weddings the most exotic thing I remember was the food buffet where we had a sculptured swan made out of chopped liver.
In Massailand, a typical wedding feast includes a toast with warm goat’s blood followed by canapés of goat liver and goat pancreas. The goat is killed during the ceremony, in fact smothered by the groom, and then dissected into its various component parts. The bride, Ms. Nagamatsu, dressed in traditional Masai beads, as part of the service, was allowed to smear cow dung on the backs of the livestock that were given to her as gifts.
And all I ever got were Corning Ware casseroles! Next time, for wedding number three, . . . .
It seems that it’s getting to be quite the thing among some members of the jet set to find a Masai nomad to marry—not just visit as part of a safari but to find someone with whom to share wedded bliss. And it’s not exactly what you’re probably thinking—that a rich westerner who wants a compliant, traditional, and exotic wife mail orders one from Asia or Africa. More typically here we find western and Asian women looking for a Masai man to marry.
For example, Maki Nagamatsu, a Japanese tour guide, recently married Jackson ole Seyio, becoming his second, second concurrent wife. As part of her agreeing to marry him, Mr. Seyio assented (1) that she can continue to work as a tour guide; (2) he will not marry a third wife; and (3) he will not cut off the genitals of any girl child they might have. Sounds like a good deal to me.
Another example—Noted French anthropologist Jacqueline Roumeguere-Eberhardt has been married to a Masai man for nearly 40 years and, in addition to studying the indigenous cultures of Africa, has been working on her memoirs. The working title is The Six Wives of My Husband. While dickering with the publisher, who wants it to be a tale of jealousy and betrayal, its publication has been delayed. She has been resisting turning it into a Soap Opera. The publisher has finally relented and the book is now making its way to press. But it has a new title—The Nine Wives of My Husband since during the time she has been negotiating with the publisher her husband has married three more women.
When I learned about the typical Masai wedding it made it easier for me to understand the attraction of these cross-cultural unions. From my weddings the most exotic thing I remember was the food buffet where we had a sculptured swan made out of chopped liver.
In Massailand, a typical wedding feast includes a toast with warm goat’s blood followed by canapés of goat liver and goat pancreas. The goat is killed during the ceremony, in fact smothered by the groom, and then dissected into its various component parts. The bride, Ms. Nagamatsu, dressed in traditional Masai beads, as part of the service, was allowed to smear cow dung on the backs of the livestock that were given to her as gifts.
And all I ever got were Corning Ware casseroles! Next time, for wedding number three, . . . .
posted by Steven Zwerling at
10:45 AM
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