Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has made bold remarks regarding the prevalence of infidelity and polygamy within Nigerian society, describing them as deeply rooted cultural patterns that continue to shape relationships across generations.
In a recent podcast appearance hosted by fellow actress Ayo Adesanya, the 55-year-old screen icon shared her personal reflections on the longstanding normalization of cheating among Nigerian men. According to Akintola, the behaviors surrounding infidelity are not simply individual choices but are often inherited through generational and environmental conditioning.
"I don’t know where this idea of fidelity in Africa came from," Akintola said during the interview. "Your father cheats, your grandfather cheated — my father had two wives." She continued, “Some men learned these behaviors early in life, following their fathers to visit girlfriends and internalizing such actions as normal.”
Citing what she described as a staggering percentage, Akintola alleged that 90 to 99 percent of Nigerian men engage in infidelity. She emphasized that this is not necessarily a matter of excusing the behavior, but rather acknowledging the widespread social reality many women face.
“I’m not excusing it — don’t get me wrong — I am just being realistic,” she clarified. “Characters are said to be fully formed by the age of seven. If a boy grows up seeing his father with multiple partners, it becomes a pattern he may carry into adulthood.”
Akintola also addressed the dilemma many women face in relationships, noting that leaving a cheating partner does not always guarantee finding a faithful one. “You leave this one and move to the next one — you may still face the same issue. They all cheat. It’s engraved in them.”
Her comments have sparked conversation across social media, with many praising her candor while others have debated the cultural implications of such statements.
With a career spanning nearly three decades, Bimbo Akintola remains one of Nollywood’s most respected figures, known not only for her acting prowess but also for her unfiltered perspectives on societal issues.
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