2024-04-28 01:52:53
It is a news story as terrifying as it is unusual which shakes the town of Koutaba in Cameroon. A young polygamist was seriously injured by his second wife for violating the “weekly program” governing his marital relationship. A drama which sheds harsh light on the dangers of polygamy and its abuses.
Hell of a night or slippage of a life?
The facts date back to the night of Monday April 22, 2024. As 237online.com exclusively reveals, what should have been an ordinary evening turned into a nightmare for this husband of three wives. His fatal mistake? Having spent the night with his 3rd wife… even though the established schedule stipulated that he had to spend it with the 2nd! A gap at the origin of an unprecedented outbreak of violence.
« She literally split his skull with a broken bottle, reports a source close to the investigation on condition of anonymity. The scene was worthy of a horror film.r”. Rushed to hospital, the husband unfaithful to his own agenda is still in critical condition. His scorned wife was arrested by the police. “She seemed possessed, in a state of shock“, slips a still terrified witness.
Polygamy in Cameroon: from dream to nightmare
Beyond its sordid aspect, this news item highlights the excesses of a practice still widespread in Cameroon: polygamy. Legal in the country, it concerns nearly 20% of households according to the latest estimates from the National Institute of Statistics relayed by 237online.com. A figure that is constantly increasing, especially among younger generations attracted by this marital model.
« Polygamy is often seen as a sign of social success, a way of asserting one’s virility, analyzes sociologist Clarisse Yembou. But behind appearances, it’s a time bomb that could explode at any moment.“. Rivalries, jealousies, power struggles… The testimonies collected by 237online.com paint an uncompromising picture of polygamous households, far from idyllic clichés.
When polygamy turns into tragedy
And sometimes, these latent tensions turn into drama. “Cases of violence linked to polygamy are legion, but often kept quiet,” laments Dr. Paul Ntonga, psychiatrist. Abandoned woman syndrome, pressure from those around them, a feeling of injustice… It’s an explosive cocktail that can lead to the irreparable.“. A phenomenon still largely underestimated by the authorities according to him.
Faced with this alarming observation, voices are being raised to demand awareness. “We must break the silence on the ravages of polygamy,” insists Aïssatou Diouf, president of the Touche pas à ma cœur association. Raising awareness about its dangers, supporting victims, making people responsible… It’s long-term but vital work”. A fight that she intends to take to the public square.
In the meantime, the Koutaba affair risks becoming the new symbol of the excesses of polygamy in Cameroon. One too many for his detractors, who hope that this drama will finally serve as an electric shock. “ How many more tragedies will it take to understand that polygamy is a dead end?, asks Aïssatou Diouf. It’s time to open your eyes and say stop“. A cry from the heart so that a “ planning » too much no longer turns into a bloody news story…