marriage traditions, family life, Nedu interview, relationships, Nigerian comedian, cultural practices
Alibaba Says Polygamy Can Foster Harmony and Stability in Families
Veteran Nigerian comedian and actor, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, widely known as Alibaba, has shared his perspective on polygamy, describing it as a practice that can serve both cultural and practical purposes in society.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Nedu, Alibaba argued that having multiple wives can sometimes help sustain peace within relationships. According to him, the awareness of another wife often encourages cooperation among spouses and reduces domestic friction.
“Some people believe that when you have only one wife, you may not be able to control her. But when she knows there’s another woman in the picture, she will calm down because she knows that once she misbehaves, another one is available,” Alibaba said.
The comedian referenced traditional norms in certain parts of Nigeria, particularly in old Ibadan, where some women reportedly supported their husbands taking additional wives to discourage infidelity.
“I know of a woman in Ibadan who supported her husband to be a polygamist. Back then, some women married young girls and gifted them to their husbands because they didn’t want their men having concubines,” he explained.
Alibaba further noted that in some communities, polygamy evolved out of social necessity rather than personal choice.
“When a man dies and his wife is still young or has little children, the family may ask which of the brothers can take care of her. That’s also part of how polygamy evolved,” he added.
While acknowledging that the topic remains divisive, Alibaba maintained that polygamy still holds value within certain social and cultural frameworks.
“People may argue that it’s not right, but many of those same people end up having children with multiple partners,” he said.
The comedian’s remarks have reignited conversations on the relevance of traditional marriage systems in modern Nigerian society, particularly as cultural norms continue to evolve.
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