Controversial Nigerian singer, Seun Kuti, has expressed his opinion on monogamy, stating that it is ineffective.
The Afrobeat singer advocated for polygamy, suggesting that men should have multiple women in their lives.
During an episode of the ‘Bahd & Boujee’ podcast, Seun Kuti emphasized that having several women around demonstrates power and wealth.
He stated that as a powerful man, one must have the support of powerful women.
In his words:
“Monogamy doesn’t work. As a powerful man, you must have the support of numerous powerful goddesses. You know, women that are in your life because the ancestors want to put them there. You share with them.”
Despite his beliefs, Seun Kuti is currently known to be married to just one woman, his wife Yetunde Kuti.
Seun also revealed that his father had 27 wives and over 100 concubines.
In a recent appearance on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast via Skype, Seun Kuti revealed that his father’s decision to marry 27 women simultaneously was a deliberate attempt to protect their reputation and dignity.
At the time, the media was subjecting Fela’s female dancers and band members, who lived with him, to intense scrutiny and labeling them as “prost!tutes.”
According to Seun Kuti, his father was under so much pressure from the media, which was largely focused on the women in his life. To combat the negative attention and preserve their honor, Fela asked these women if they would be willing to formalize their relationships with him through marriage.
He said:
“My father was under immense media propaganda. He was very scrutinised. And most of it were directed to the women that were in his life; his female back-up singers, dancers. They all lived together with my dad but the media started calling them prostitutes.
“So my dad, in order to preserve their honour and dignity, asked them if they would choose to be his brides so nobody would call them names anymore and they all agreed. That was how the marriage happened.”
