The tradition of wife swapping also known as couple sharing has been in existence for many decades even though it’s not a popular practice around the world. For some, it solves the problem of cheating among couples and for others it promotes relationships and shows hospitality.
While this practice may not seat well with traditions who wouldn’t tolerate another man starring at their wives, the Ovahimbas of Northern Namibia, and Aryans of the Himalayans among others have imbibed it into their cultural practice.
Here Are 7 Tribes Involved in Wife Swapping or Wife Lending
1. Aryans of the Himalayans
This practice is considered a public display of affection among the Aryans of Himalayans who are commonly called the Drokpa people. They are found along the Indus River. They are found along the Indus River in northern India with a population of only 3000. The idea is that they are descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers.
Even though these practice has been fraud upon by many authoritative figures who consider the Drokpa people uncivilized, they still continue to practice under closed doors. To them, it’s a better way of showing affection to someone you care about
2. Ovahimba and Ovazimba
These semi-nomadic tribes of Northern Namibia also practice this tradition of wife swapping as a way of strengthening relationships and being hospitable. With a population of over 50,000, they are unique red skin which is a result of the red clay they rub.
In a practice called ‘Okujepisa Omukazendu’, a man gives his wife to a guest for a night as a sign of welcoming him. The man will then either sleep in another room or outside. In the same way, when the friends of the woman visit, she can also give them to her husband.
Since the couple has a mutual understanding, the woman may refuse to sleep with a guest, she will have to sleep in the same room with him as decided by her husband. The idea behind this is to promote relationships and reduce jealousy.
Read Also: 8 Crazy sexual traditions that you won’t believe are real
3. Wife Swapping Among the Eskimos
The Eskimos are another on this list who have made this practice even more interesting. These people are so attached to one another that they share everything including their women. Once a close circle is formed between the men, then they can have each other’s wife at any time they feel bored.
As a practice, when a woman’s husband from the circle is away for hunting or business, his friends do him a favor by keeping his wife warm, comfortable, and from being lonely. Because of this, there is no stigma even when your wife becomes pregnant with another man’s child; children are also communally raised.
Importantly, married people are not the only ones who enjoy this sexual freedom as premarital sex is encouraged among the people. However, polygamy is reserved for the wealthy- but who needs it anyway?
4. The Wodaabe Tribe
This Fulani tribe in Niger, West Africa spices up their sexual lives during an annual festival called the Gerewol also known as the wife stealing festival. Unlike other tribes where the men decide who to share their wives with, among the Wodaabe, it is the women who share themselves with other men as they wield sexual power.
During the Gerewol festival, the men engage in a beauty pageant e to impress other men’s wives. They are dressed in feminine clothes and spend about six hours on makeup. After the pageant, the winners are rewarded with the 3 most beautiful women while other women are at liberty to allow themselves to get stolen by other men. In cases of disagreement by her legal husbands, the men get involved a battle which sometimes leads to the loss of lives.
5. The Bantu Tribe
This settlers of the central part of Malawi have been linked to a number of barbaric practices including preparing a meal with water from a corpse during burial.
The practice of wife sharing among them was done in the dark and carefully hidden for a long time. It was until recently that the practice known as Cidyerano was banned by Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi that many got to know about it.
6. The Maasai Men of Kenya
It’s a popular proverb in Africa that when you marry a man, you marry his family however the Maasai men of Kenya have involved their extended families and friends in the group. Once a Maasai woman gets married, she automatically belongs to his friends and family.
Although this is done only with the woman’s consent, she does really have a say in his friends. According to research once her husband’s friend wants her for the night, all he needs to do is place a sword in front of her hut.
7. The Nepalis
Known for their long-age practice of polyandry, the practice of wife sharing among this tribe is limited to only brothers in the family. The brothers mutually agree to share one woman so as to limit the number of children and in turn minimize hatred and jealousy.
Also, it serves as a means of survival following the limited portions of land available. Once a Nepal woman gets married to the first brother, his younger brothers will have to come of age to marry her again and the circle continues.
