Unveiling the Dark Underbelly of Polygamy in Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives

Abstract

Polygamous marriages in Africa have long been a subject of fascination and curiosity, often portrayed in popular culture as exotic and romanticized. However, beneath the surface lies a complex web of power dynamics, inequalities, and hidden struggles that have far-reaching and detrimental consequences for those involved in it. Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives exposes these hidden struggles and oppressive power dynamics within the polygamous household. The paper depicts the dark underbelly of polygamy in African marriages projecting its negative effects such as oppression, emotional and physical abuse, infertility, and many more. Through the qualitative research method, the paper adopts a feminist perspective to literary criticism concerning African Feminism. By unveiling the dark aspects of polygamy, the paper challenges romanticized notions of polygamy and emphasizes the need for a critical examination of polygamous marriage systems in Africa. It recommends that marriage for women should be a thing of choice as it does not guarantee social and psychological fulfilment. Thus, understanding the dark underbelly of polygamy would pave the way for dialogue and more equitable and inclusive relationship structures.