Veteran Nigerian comedian and actor, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba, has shared his perspective on polygamy, arguing that the practice can serve both cultural and practical purposes in society.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Nedu, Alibaba said polygamy is often misunderstood, noting that in some situations, it can actually enhance family stability rather than destroy it.
According to him, some men believe that having just one wife may lead to a lack of control or discipline in the home, while the presence of an additional wife can create a sense of balance and cooperation among women in the household.
“Some people believe that when you have only one wife, you may not be able to control the wife. But when she knows there’s another woman in the picture, she will calm down because she knows that once she misbehave, another one is available,” he said.
Polygamy in Nigerian Tradition
Referencing traditional practices in parts of Nigeria, Alibaba explained that polygamy has long been a cultural strategy for maintaining peace in marriages. Citing an example from the past, he revealed that some women in old Ibadan even encouraged their husbands to take more wives to prevent extramarital affairs.
“I know of a woman in Ibadan who supported her husband to be a polygamist. Back then, some women would marry young girls and gift them to their husbands because they didn’t want their men having concubines,” he said.
Polygamy by Necessity
Alibaba also noted that not all polygamous marriages are based on personal desire. In some families, he said, polygamy emerged out of social responsibility and survival.
“When a man dies and his wife is still young or has little children, the family may call the brothers and say, which of you can take care of this girl? That’s also part of how polygamy evolved.”
A Controversial Yet Common Practice
While acknowledging that polygamy remains a controversial topic, Alibaba insisted that society is full of people who criticize polygamy publicly yet practice it secretly.
“People may argue that it’s not right, but many of those same people end up having children with multiple partners,” he added.
