The Polygamist: A Novel"Seven wives share Menzi Dube, head of a Rhodesian tribal village, on a rotating basis. And although they enjoy all the benefits f a rich and progressive husband, they are less than satisfied with having to share him sexually. When one of the tribe's young wives goes astray, having found the several weeks' interval between her husband's visits unbearable, the other women are most sympathetic. This provokes extensive and spirited debate over their mutual plight as female 'victims' of the age-old customs of polygamy. Tradition is further threatened by the return of Ndanda, Dube's eldest son, who has been away for many years. Ndanda wears European clothes, as most of Dube's family has been longing to, has been educated in missionary schools as a teacher, and plans to marry a girl from a Westernized family ... just one girl. This is the cruelest blow of all to his proud and esteemed father. Dube vows to save his son from the certain disaster of monogamous union, but Ndanda resists, determined to bring his people into the 'modern age'"-- |
Common terms and phrases
ancestors answered Ndanda back home beer began bicycle boys brew Bulawayo bull calabash called cattle child court cried custom daughter Dlamini dress Dube's village elder brother emissaries evil act eyes father feel felt girl goats Gogo greet happy head hear heart husband Jessie's Johane's mother Josaka Kanye kilt kingdom knobkerrie kraal Kwini live Lobengula looked Magumede Magutshwa Makhumalo Mamhlanga Mamoyo Mamsipa Manyathi marry Masibanda Masiziba Masola Tshuma Masuku Matani's mother Mathebe matter Matutu's village Mbuzi Matutu Menzi Dube mind Mlotshwa morning mother of Johane mother of Matani Moyo Mpofu Msipa Ndaniso Ndebele never Nguni night Number polygamous question Sibanda Sibangani silence sister sleep smiled soon spirits stranger talk teacher Tegwani tell thank There's thing thought tomorrow trouble understand voice week What's wives woman women women laughed wonder wrong young zebra