MERRY WIVES OF ABYSSINIA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 138, 13 February 1942, Page 17

MERRY WIVES OF ABYSSINIA

(Condensed from "Sunday Guardian," Port of Spain, Trinidad)

BYSSINIA must contain more exwives and ex-husbands per thousand of the population than any other country or town in the world, not even excepting Hollywood. The late Empress Zauditu (Judith), divorced four husbands. Her predecessor, the Empress Taitu, went one better with five husbands-all divorced. The present: Empress, Waizeru Menin, divorced two husbands before marrying Haile Selassie. The abundance of spouses arises largely from the fact that Ethiopia recognises three kinds of marriage, starting with a simple contract that is governed neither by sentiment nor by religion.. The man chooses a bride, and if she is agreeable to live with him he provides her with a home, food, clothing, and the Ethiopian equivalent of a housekeeping allowance. They settle down to married life without any legal or religious ceremony, and when either tires of the other, the marriage can be ended by mutual consent. This is the normal form of marriage among "the Gallas (the subject tribe), and the lower orders of the Ambharics. The civil marriage is rather more elaborate. It is frequently arranged by friendly parents while the principals are still infants. Adults using this form of marriage go through a preliminary engagement. The actual marriage takes place at a feast. Every guest brings a present, the nature and value of which is carefully recorded. This procedure is very necessary, as will be seen later. When the details of the presents and the dowry have been satisfactorily recorded, the bride-so muffled as to be

entirely hidden by clothes-is brought in and the couple are pronounced man and wife in the name of Menelik. As a general rule, the ceremony is performed by a village elder, but occasionally a priest is called in, In this form of marriage, divorce is still a matter of individual whim. Either party may make a complaint to an elder and all that worthy has to say is "Menelik is dead,’ whereupon the divorce becomes effective. It is no uncommon thing for an Ethiopian husband to return home from work or hunting to find that he has been divorced during his absence. Alimony Is Heavy The wife’s alimony consists of one exact half of the joint property, including the wedding presents. The division is effected by three neutrals. The third form of marriage is a strict teligious ceremony, the rules for which are laid down in the intricate legal code of the country. This religious marriage is, however, rarely used, even by the aristocracy. Of the Empress Zauditu’s four marriages, only the last was under the religious code. Divorce is only possible with the consent of the Abouna, or Bishop, and then only for certain specified reasons. Alimony is on the same basis for all types of marriage. As a result of the heavy alimony, women who have been married two or three times, acquire a considerable amount of property, but instead of fight- | ing shy of these much-married ladies, the men pay ardent court to. them. Every woman over 40 has been married at least four times if she has been married at all, and many women of that age consider that their matrimonial career is only just starting.