In Senegal the test of success is still to have a big family. In the Washington Post of March 16, 2014 Allyn Gaestal interviewed a 76 year old farmer called Hadji Fally Diallo, who has taken the writings of the prophet literally and has three wives and 30, yes 30, children. “With 30 children some can go into the fields, some can deal with the cattle, some can go abroad. It’s a lot of money you can have with this size family, so that is a lot of power”.
If you hadn’t read it in the Washington Post you would never have believed it (and maybe we shouldn’t, it is so irresponsible). Here we are with a world population of 7 billion, stressed for water, facing global warming and high food prices, and this man is oblivious to it. Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of the imams, who will have nothing to do with contraception, better family health or the economic benefits brought with smaller families. The prophet tells them: “You are my people. Multiply”, and “It is the duty of god to take care of the family”. Duty?
The hadji should get on his bike or bullock and find work for himself, not expect his wives and children to do it all for him. This is the Epicurean way – fairness and the equal division of labour and effort.
Epicurus would, were he still around, have told us that the gods cavorted enjoyably on Mount Olympus and were indifferent to us humans, who are doing their best to wreck the planet without the help of Zeus and his friends, and certainly wouldn’t sympathize with the self-indulgence of Mr Diallo.
Interesting but not news to us Africans. I am a Nigerian and my dad has 4 wives and 26 children. Yes 26. And by the way we are all educated with university degrees from Nigerian, British and American universities. We are not a burden to the world but actually contribute positive. Will my generation indulge in this? Certainly not as it is too expensive!
Your father must have been superb disciplinarian and had wonderful genes. Congratulations!