The legacy of Akuku Danger still lives on a decade later

With more than 100 wives and about 300 children, Akuku Danger was Africa’s grandmaster of polygamy.

Ten years after Akuku Danger’s death on October 3, 2010, his name is immortalised in the village of Aurachuodho, Homa Bay County. 

Akuku Danger is as popular in death as he was alive.

At the time of his death, thanks to diabetes and just weeks shy of his 92nd birthday, Akuku Danger’s youngest wife who was just 25 had a three-month-old baby.

Were it not for the grim reaper, the nonagenarian would have sired many more children.

When the Nation team visited Aorachuodho, some of Akuku Danger’s sons – who are members of the ‘Family Board’ – were inspecting his mausoleum that is under construction at his expansive home.

“After he died, we took time to gather some of his most treasured belongings from his ‘state house’ at Akuku Danger Plaza, Aorachuodho centre. Many others were scattered all over our mothers’ homes,” family chairman and son of Akuku Danger’s fifth wife Peterson Akuku told the Nation.

In his halcyon days, Acentus Ogwella Akuku, a dancer of no mean repute and liberal lifestyle, was the veritable Casanova. Akuku married his first wife in 1939 and by the time he was 22, he had five. At 35, he was on his 45th!

Village celebrity

“We hope to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his death by opening the mausoleum to the public. The family realised that very many people in Kenya, Africa and beyond are interested in him,” Peterson said.

Akuku was a village celebrity. His peers nicknamed him “Danger” because they believed he could draw any woman to his side, irrespective of her age, status or education.

Among his wives was a set of four sisters – Rose Adera, Peris Okoth, Druscilla Akuku and Clementina Akuku – and another of three – Prisca Obumba, Damaris Awiti and Priscilla Owende.

Damaris said it was hard to resist her sister’s husband.

By the time Ndhiwa’s master of seduction breathed his last, he had 104 sons and more than 200 daughters.

Ten sons and an unspecified number of daughters had died. Most of his wives preceded him in death and only 13 are alive.

At one point, about 80 per cent of Kogole Primary School pupils were Akuku Danger’s children.

He left huge pieces of land and hundreds of cows in Homa Bay and Migori counties. Akuku Danger had businesses in Aorachuodho, Sori and K’Onyango Rabuor. He also had taxis.

Polygamy

Some of his sons have followed in his polygamy footsteps. During a visit to his homes in Kanyamwa, Kwambai and Karungu, we were informed that less than 10 of Akuku Danger’s sons are monogamous, three who happen to be pastors.

Many have three wives or more, with some telling the Nation team that they are not done with marrying yet.

Eliakim Kura has five wives while his brother Kenneth Akuku has three.

“The secret to polygamy is treating all wives equally like princesses. I do not tell them whose house I will visit or when. I let them compete for my affection through actions,” Mr Eric Okomo, 40, who already is a husband of three, said.

Peterson said keeping his father’s legacy alive is part of his sons’ dreams.

He said the family is planning to partner with the Homa Bay devolved government to monetise visits to the mausoleum and how it can help create jobs.

“The mausoleum will be open before the end of the year once we give it the lustre and allure it deserves and after all of mzee’s gear is assembled and arranged,” Peterson said.

Mr Josephat Oketch Okero – locally known as “Correct” and who serves as the coordinator of the family’s affairs – said keeping such a large polygamous family together requires discipline and order.

The family still holds regular meetings to discuss its affairs and conduct family mini censuses.

“That does not mean we do not have differences. But they usually do not escalate. We solve these problems amicably during family meetings which began when mzee was alive,” said Mr Okero, the son of Akuku Danger’s ninth wife Karnel Ndiga.

“We do not shrug off concerns from any wife, son or daughter. Every issue is tackled immediately and that has helped us. Though we divided the cows among the widows, the land is still intact.”

When Akuku Danger died, the chairmanship of family matters was passed to Tom Akuku, who died two years ago, leaving Peterson at the helm.

“No one has seen the urgency of dividing my father’s estate but we are in the process of doing that. We have the sketches and are waiting for surveyors,” Oketch said.

Kogole Primary School, built specifically for Akuku Danger’s children has been handed over to the government because most of the children are now grown-ups and “spread all over the world”, according to the large family .

Pay school fees

The family’s vice chairman Walter Akuku, who is the son of Akuku Danger’s sixth wife, says several businesses earn the clan enough money to sustain the widows and pay fees for children.

“Unlike most polygamous families that are torn apart by conflicts soon after the man’s death, Akuku Danger’s has not withdrawn the money he left in his bank accounts,” he said.

Family members also use rent from houses in Nairobi, Kisumu, Migori and Homa Bay counties.

Money also comes from the 28-vehicle matatu sacco Babwa (Derived from the word Babawa, which means “our father”).

Akuku Danger’s family runs an insurance company, grocery stores, hardwares and other businesses.

Akuku Danger rationed his time and presence in a way that ensured every wife – the eldest being 75 when he died – felt valued.

Damaris Awiti describes her husband as a tall, dark and handsome man who was always exquisitely groomed.

“I miss him. He would make a woman feel she is the luckiest person on Earth. His sons have been taking care of us just like he did. We lack nothing. All you need to do is tell the family leaders of your need,” his last wife, Justina Auma, said.

Auma has a four-year-old daughter she got from a relationship with another man. Auma, however, says she is not ready for marriage.

None of Akuku Danger’s wives got inherited, with most of those interviewed saying they are too old or do not want to leave. Wife number 38, Carren Akuku said she is happy.

Even the Luo Council of Elders Ker Willis Opiyo Otondi admitted that inheriting any of Akuku Danger’s wives would be a complicated affair.

“Under normal circumstances, a widow is expected to approach a married man she is interested in,” Mr Otondi told the Nation.

“She is supposed to submit the request in the presence of his wife and the couple has to agree to accommodate her. If they agree, the marriage can go on.”

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