Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Katharine wrote: ↑Tue Apr 13, 2021 4:17 pm A chief only offered Four Cows and Seven Goats for me. He had 16 wives and 42 children already, but I’d have become number one wife, or so he said. I’ve told that story many times in the intervening years.

Katharine wrote: ↑Thu Apr 15, 2021 1:16 pm At the time I was in the far north of the country, close to the border with Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso. The tribes there were vey fragmented and definitely not Akan.
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Yes, the border was porous. My steward was a Grunshie from just over the border in Cote d'Ivoire.

sejintenej wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 3:45 pm

Katharine wrote: ↑Tue Apr 13, 2021 4:17 pm A chief only offered Four Cows and Seven Goats for me. He had 16 wives and 42 children already, but I’d have become number one wife, or so he said. I’ve told that story many times in the intervening years.

I can understand that if he was Akan. (In English, Ashanti as in the war) We had a couple of their tribe in the office and the idea was to get them grossly overweight to appeal to a prospective husband who would know the father had plenty of cows etc. You must have been slim or even slimmer!
Other tribes had different ideas - you probably came across tribal markings (we were required to learn them) for example. On popular (very respectable and pleasant) lady, Elizabeth Sam, was so slim you could see the pencil behind her (almost both side). Ah, memories!!!

My wife tells that where she was brought up a wife was ten cows, a second hand wife five. I got her free (but she was Italian and not Zulu)

Katharine wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:23 pm I’ve just read George’s book and loved it. I’m sure others who have lived an expat life will love it, comparing it with their own experiences. I highly recommend it!