Veteran comedian Ali Baba has shared his perspective on polygamy, saying he supports the practice because it provides both practical and cultural benefits.
In a conversation with media personality Nedu, Ali Baba explained that polygamy can help maintain stability in marriages, as the presence of multiple wives encourages cooperation and discourages misconduct.
He said: “Some people feel if it’s only one wife, you may not be able to control the wife. But if the wife knows that you have more than one, she will calm down. She will calm down because she knows that if she misbehaves, another person is available.”
Referencing traditional practices, the comedian pointed out that in some parts of Nigeria, particularly in Ibadan, women once encouraged their husbands to marry additional wives to prevent infidelity and sustain family unity.
“So there are different reasons for polygamy. I actually know of a woman in Ibadan who encouraged her husband to be polygamist. Most of them back then, I don’t know who wants to doubt this, the women marry a young girl and gift it to the husband. And they do that because they don’t want the man to have concubines,” he added.
Ali Baba also cited cultural customs in which widows were married to their late husband’s brothers to ensure that their children were properly cared for — describing this as a form of polygamy born out of duty and protection.
“You have families where when the brother that married the woman dies, and she’s either just a new wife or she has just two children, and they need the children to be taken care of and you don’t want her to go to another family.
“They call all the brothers and say, which of you can take over this girl and take care of her? So if the man already had a wife, that’s the cause of polygamy. And as much as people try to say it is not right, like in your introduction, there are people who say no, it’s not right. The same person would have about like three, four, five children,” he said.
Despite acknowledging differing opinions, the comedian stood by his belief that polygamy plays an important social role in preserving family structures and responsibilities within certain communities.
