Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has stirred controversy with her comments on infidelity and polygamy, insisting that cheating is a widespread cultural norm among Nigerian men.
Speaking on a podcast alongside fellow actress Ayo Adesanya, Akintola argued that marital unfaithfulness is not a recent trend but one rooted in generational practices influenced by polygamy.
“The majority of our men cheat. Your father cheated, your grandfather did. Polygamy, polygamy. Yes, my father has two wives,” she said, stressing that male infidelity is ingrained in the country’s cultural fabric.
The actress maintained that 90 to 99 percent of Nigerian men cheat, claiming the behavior is often passed down through family influence. “Some men grew up following their fathers to visit girlfriends. I don’t know where this idea of fidelity came from in Africa,” she said.
Akintola further urged women to manage their expectations in relationships, warning against adopting standards shaped by Western ideals. Citing the case of American rapper Jay-Z, who admitted to cheating on Beyoncé, she added: “You leave one man because he cheated, and go to another, same issue. Did Beyoncé leave? No. Let’s be honest about the reality we live in.”
Her remarks have since ignited intense debate on social media, with many Nigerians divided over whether infidelity should be accepted as a cultural reality or condemned as a societal failing.
