Nigerian comedian and actor Okey Bakassi has stirred up controversy by claiming that monogamy is failing in Africa and that polygamy might be a better fit for the continent. Speaking on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Bakassi argued that many monogamous couples are merely “acting content” and hiding the cracks in their marriages.
Forget all the lip service we pay to polygamy here. I still think that polygamy is the best form of marriage for Africa. Monogamy is not working
he said. He further questioned the rigidity of monogamy, adding,
Polygamy says you can marry two people at the same time. Monogamy says you cannot marry them at the same time, you have to let one go. What if you don’t want to let one go?
Bakassi’s views echo those of Nollywood veteran Stephen Alajemba, who recently described having fewer than three wives as a sin. In an interview with Ugwumba TV, Alajemba claimed that men in single or dual marriages risk being poisoned by their spouses.
If you marry three or four, you will be free from sin. One wife puts your life at risk, and two will conspire against you
he said.
The comments from both entertainers have sparked widespread reactions, reigniting discussions around traditional marriage practices, modern relationship dynamics, and the cultural realities of monogamy and polygamy in African societies.
