Great Wife, otherwise appearing in West Africa as Senior Wife,[1] is an honorific applied to the principal female spouse in Africanpolygynous unions. It is widely used by contemporary royal and aristocratic wives in states throughout the modern continent as a synonym for consort (e.g., Mantfombi Dlamini of eSwatini, who once served as the chief consort of a Zulu King, bore it as a title).[2]
Historic background and terms
In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh's principal consort was known as the great royal wife. She presided over her husband's harem and served a variety of priestly functions in the kingdom.[3][4] A great royal wife was also known as a Good Wife.[5]
Good wives were the head mistress of the home they were married into, and became head of the harem of the house. Continuously throughout history, the term harem was less defined in comparison to the definitions used in modern periods. In Islamic civilizations and Muslim countries, a 'Harem' was defined as an area or space of privacy and seclusion for the women of the household - irrespective of whether they were spouses or not.[6]
In Kush and other African states of the pre-colonial period, the chief royal consorts often functioned in much the same fashion.[7][8]
Roles in history
The most greatly and commonly known Great Wife was Nefertari, who was married to Ramesses II, which in position and royal status made her the Great Royal Wife.[9] As known throughout history, the queen or the mistress of the king has had the supporting role - though in history these women in power have had substantial influence over the affairs of the kingdom.[10]
The Great Wife had many roles, but a mainly known one was to look over the king's harem which was where the wives were housed but, in some kingdoms, also those in close relation to the king.[11] Nefertari is an example of playing the role of the great royal wife; in history she was greatly influential in the contribution to Egyptian culture. She played a crucial behind the scenes role in the royal family, and that reflected onto the role that a Great Wife is now perceived to have.
Today
The practice of creating great wives, with the most senior polygynous spouses of contemporary African royals and aristocrats often being referred to as their Great Wives, has continued to the present.[12] In addition to the queen of the Zulus, contemporary holders of the title have included the numerous bearers of the Olori Agba attribute of Yorubaland and the principal consort of the Ingwenyama of eSwatini.
When regarded as more of a generic term for a principal spouse in a polygynous household, traditions pertaining to great wives vary; In Nigerian customary law, a subordinate wife disrespecting her superior in his household has been used as a grounds for the husband divorcing her,[13] while in Southern African customary law, the recognized superior is the one through whom inheritance is reckoned.[14]
^ Schiller, L. D. (1990). The Royal Women of Buganda. The International Journal of African Historical Studies, 23(3), 455–473. https://doi.org/10.2307/219599
