According to Wikipedia, monogamy is the form of relationship in which an individual has only one partner during their lifetime or at any one time.

A critical look at the current situation in the society reveals a great departure from this definition. The rate of divorce and promiscuity among people in relationships, especially the married ones, shows that a lot of people have never read Wikipedia or simply do not care. The modern reality shows that humans no longer believe in the notion of sticking to one partner for life. A one year relationship is today regarded as long term.

Polyamory, or consensual non-monogamy, is becoming more and more popular as people realize that it is almost impossible to stick to one partner throughout their lifetime. Should we accept this as the new norm? 

Our forefathers had no problems keeping multiple wives. It was a symbol of power and wealth. The more wives you had, the more respect and power you were accorded. With the coming of Christianity to Africa, polygamy seemed on the way out. But evolution never lies. Over a hundred years after the coming of Christianity, are we going back to our roots? Is this what people really mean when they say we have to go back to our roots?

Many cultures support keeping multiple partners. In Nigeria, having more than one wife is a measure of a man's status. In India, among the Toda, many women enjoy the privilege of marrying many men. In western countries where monogamy seems to be a norm, 60% men and 50% women in USA attests to the fact of having been involved in extramarital affairs. 

The gradual wane in the belief about monogamy comes from the advent of certain things in the society. The Seven Year Itch seems to be proving to be true after all. This stems from the theory that the happiness in a relationship declines after seven years with an increase in the desire to explore new partners.

There seems to be an acceptance that we are not made to keep monogamous relationship. The culpable culprit from many failed relationships is unfaithfulness. There is this experience where you are in a relationship but still find that you are attracted to someone else. This shows how we are created. Cheating is not a plausible thing, but human physiology seems to be wired so.

The inability to keep a lasting monogamous relationship is fuelled by several factors in the society. There has been a great departure from how the present generation date and how past generations met. Then, there is little or no wooing on the part of the man. Most of the marriages then were simply arranged. The whole process could be between the parents or relatives without the knowledge of the couple.

Today, technological advancement has made it possible for anyone to enter into any relationship without the knowledge of others. Mobile phones present us with unrestrained access to each other. The various chat apps that dote the digital landscape gives the privilege to engage many people simultaneously. Online dating has simplified the process of meeting a new partner who suits your desire.

The internet has abundant resources to guarantee your sexual fantasy. Porn and other sexual television shows are readily available over the internet. You can conveniently satisfy your sexual needs and curiosity through the internet. 

There is also a dearth of role models today. It is acceptable today to be a single parent. Many of our celebrities do not think about the importance of marriage, rather, they think about what suits them. This is the era of the cliché 'baby mama' or 'baby papa'. This stems from peoples disposition to engage in celebrity worship. We have been inundated with the relationships of many so called celebrities and the inevitable breakup of the relationship after they've had one child together and the process simply begins again. There is the alleged report of one celebrity who has several children from different women at the same time.

The issue of single parenting comes with the issue of equality between the male and female gender. A study found out that in United States the percentage of women who are the breadwinners of the family and with children under the age of 18 are over 40%. The belief in equality of the sexes has given women the freedom to do what past generations of women could not do. Women are increasingly coming into positions of authority.

Today, adultery is no longer seen as a serious issue. The stigma associated with promiscuity is no longer existent or has been watered down. It is now a trend to engage in random sex. The era of being ashamed of hooking up or engaging in one night stand is gone. Hookup clubs have become an acceptable part of the society. 

Is monogamy dead? No, monogamy is actually not dead but wounded as noted by Rosie Wilby. Monogamy will absolutely never die; it might not be in vogue with many people but will still be accepted by some. Definitely, it is under attacks by man's physiological and biological nature but it will still stand the test of time.