'Inside our polygamous marriage'

'Inside our polygamous marriage'

July 17, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

The episode explores the dynamics of a polygamous marriage through the experiences of Takid Master and his wives, Cecilia and Mariam.

You may have heard about South Africa’s viral Netflix show, The Polygamist. The series has been trending across the continent, sparking conversations about relationships, marriage and fidelity. Now, according to the Pew Research Center, a US-based think tank, only around 2% of the world's population lives in polygamous households. However, the practice is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 11% of people are part of polygamous families. So, what is it really like to be in a polygamous marriage, and why do some people choose this way of life? We hear from Takid Master, his first wife, Cecilia, and his second wife, Mariam, about how their relationship works. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Bella Twine Senior Producers: Priya Sippy and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

People in this episode

Host: Nkechi Ogbonna

Guests: Takid Master, Cecilia, Mariam

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pew Research Center

Books & works: The Polygamist

Places: South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa

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