African View on Polygamy – Professor Moyo Okediji

What is the indigenous African view on polygyny?

Let’s take the Yoruba example, which is found in this Ifa verse.
Please pay attention to the details:

Ọ̣̀kan ṣoṣo péré lobìnrín dùn mọ nílé ọkọ
(Only one wife is desirable in a man’s house)

Tí wọ́n bá di méjì wọn a dòjòwú
(Once there are two, they get envious)

Tí wọ́n bá di méta wọn á di ẹ̀ta ǹtúlé
(Once there are three, they wreck the household)

Tí wọ́n bá di mérin, wọn á di bó o bá rín mi, ma rín ọ
(Once there are four, they ridicule each other)

Tí wọ́n bá di márǔn, wọn a di ìyá a lágbájá ni yíò run ọkọ ọ wa
(Once they are five, they accuse one another of aiming to ruin their husband)

Tí wọ́n bá di mefa wọn a di bó o fà mí láṣọ, ma fà ọ láṣọ ya
(Once there are six, they yell, “If you tug at my dress, I’ll tear yours”)

Tí wọ́n bá di méje wọ̣n a di ọjọ́ méje-méje ni Tàmẹ̀dù ń bu igi jẹ
(Once they become seven, they accuse one among them as acting nuts every seventh day)

Tí wọ́n bá di mẹ́jọ won a di Làkáṣègbé kì í bí ọmọ kó jọ ọkọ wa
(Once they become eight, they accuse each other of infidelity)

Tí wọ́n bá di mẹ́sǎn wọn a di ẹnìkan ò kúkú san owó orí i wọn
(Once they become nine, they complain they were obtained free without payment of dowry)

Tí wọ́n bá di méwǎ, wọn a di ilé ni a wà tí gbogbo wọn ń wá ọkọ wa wá
(Once they become ten, they claim “Women keep flocking into our husband’s home”).

1. When Ifa says “Only one wife is desirable in a man’s house,” does that imply that the man could keep one wife only at home, and keep others outside the home?
2. Or does it mean that one must NEVER marry more than one wife?
3. Or that you may marry more than one, keep all of them at home, though there will be grievous consequences?