Nigerian stand-up comedian and actor, Okey Bakassi
Nigerian stand-up comedian and actor Okey Bakassi has stirred up a conversation on Nedu Wazobia’s Honest Brunch podcast, where he shared his views on relationships and marriage within the context of African society.
During the lively discussion, Bakassi revealed his thoughts on the traditional notion of monogamy, a model that is often celebrated in many parts of the world.
However, he took a sharp turn in his commentary, arguing that monogamy is not inherently African. “Monogamy is a Western construct,” Bakassi said, noting that many African societies have long embraced polygamy as a norm.
“In our culture, polygamy was never seen as something bad. It was actually the accepted practice,” he explained.
Bakassi’s remarks came amid a growing global conversation about the role of tradition and culture in modern relationships.
His point was that while many men in African societies pretend to accept monogamy, the reality is far more complicated.
“Men might say they agree with monogamy, but deep down, it’s a different story. The challenges they face in trying to conform to this ideal are real,” Bakassi continued. “We’ve been told to follow this model, but many of us are struggling to make it work.”
He went on to champion polygamy as the ideal arrangement for Africans, emphasizing that it aligns more naturally with the realities of African life.
“Polygamy is simply more practical for us,” he argued. “It reflects the way we’ve lived for generations, and it acknowledges the complexities of human relationships.”
