One president, two first ladies in Senegal – how acceptable is polygamy?

In the closing moments of the electoral campaign, Senegal’s president-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye stepped onto the stage holding the hands of both his wives Marie and Absa. It was an unprecedented sight in the national politics of the West African country and a clear choice by the first-round winner who promises radical change.

Polygamy is a traditional and religious practice firmly anchored in the culture of Senegal where the overwhelming majority is Muslim.

The facts

Marie Khone, who until now had never been in the spotlight, comes from the same village as 44-year-old Faye. They married 15 years ago and have four children.

He married his second wife Absa just over a year ago.

People say this is the ultimate recognition of the tradition of polygamy at the top of the state, with a situation that will reflect Senegalese reality. Many men praise the practice while women tend to remain mistrustful.

Polygamy has long stirred controversy and the public appearance by BDF, as he is known, with his two wives at his side cheered on by thousands of his supporters has made it a top talking point in the media, online and at home, sparking diverse reaction.

The matrimonial situation at the presidential palace now is totally new. Until now, there was only one First Lady, so this means the entire protocol must be reviewed.

Polygamy is widespread in Senegal particularly in rural areas and is considered a way of widening one’s family.

The arguments

Some Senegalese say that polygamy, monogamy or polyandry are matrimonial models determined by the history of every nation and they think that the West has no legitimacy to judge the practice. Nevertheless, many Senegalese women say they find polygamy hypocritical and unfair, while the UN Human Rights Committee said in a 2022 report that it amounted to discrimination against women and should be ended.

Many popular West African TV series in recent years, like “Mistress of a Married Man” or “Polygamy”, have explored the ups and downs of family life in polygamous households.

In Islam, men are allowed to marry up to four wives as long as they can support them financially. In such a case, it calls for equal, alternating time spent with the wives, of between two and three days.

Many marriages are not registered in Senegal, making it difficult to say exactly how many of these relationships are polygamous. But according to a 2013 report by the national statistics and demographics agency, 32.5% of married Senegalese people were in a polygamous union. The average age of the women at the time of their marriage was 40.4 years old and 52.9 for men, the report said.

Faye had sent a strong signal so that other men also accept their polygamy and so that they demonstrate transparency like him. He also wants to end hidden polygamy – known in the Wolof language as Takou Souf – which he added would be “a good thing for the economy of the country and for the matrimonial situation”.

In response to detractors, the incoming president, who won 54.28% in the March 24 vote, shows nothing but pride in his family situation. He declared that he has beautiful children because he has wonderful wives and he thanks God they are always fully behind him.