Continuously throughout history, the term harem was less defined in comparison to the definitions used in modern periods.
In Islamic civilizations and Muslim countries, a 'Harem' was defined as an area or space of privacy and seclusion for the women of the household - irrespective of whether they were spouses or not.
[6] In Kush and other African states of the pre-colonial period, the chief royal consorts often functioned in much the same fashion.
[12] In addition to the queen of the Zulus, contemporary holders of the title have included the numerous bearers of the Olori Agba attribute of Yorubaland and the principal consort of the Ingwenyama of eSwatini.
When regarded as more of a generic term for a principal spouse in a polygynous household, traditions pertaining to great wives vary; In Nigerian customary law, a subordinate wife disrespecting her superior in his household has been used as a grounds for the husband divorcing her,[13] while in Southern African customary law, the recognized superior is the one through whom inheritance is reckoned.