Veteran Nigerian comedian and actor, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba, has shared his views on polygamy, stating that he believes the practice can serve both practical and cultural purposes.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Nedu, the comedian argued that having multiple wives can sometimes promote stability in relationships, as it encourages cooperation and reduces tension among spouses.
“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,” Alibaba said.
Referencing traditional practices in parts of Nigeria, Alibaba recalled that in old Ibadan, some women encouraged their husbands to take additional wives to prevent infidelity and maintain harmony at home.
“I know of a woman in Ibadan who supported her husband to be a polygamist. Back then, some women marry young girls and gift to their husbands. Because they don’t want their men having concubines,” he explained.
He also noted that in some families, polygamy arose out of necessity rather than choice.
“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,” he said.
While acknowledging that the topic remains controversial, Alibaba maintained that polygamy holds value in certain social and cultural contexts.
“People may argue that it’s not right, but many of those same people end up having children with multiple partners,” he added.
