Bimbo Akintola Sparks Debate with Bold Take on Infidelity in Nigerian Relationships

Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has set social media buzzing after making unapologetically bold remarks about cheating during a podcast interview.

According to the screen icon, infidelity is not just a passing issue but one deeply ingrained in Nigerian culture, especially among men.

“The majority of our men cheat,” she stated bluntly. “Your father cheated, your grandfather did. Polygamy is part of our history. My own father had two wives. I don’t know where this idea of fidelity came from in Africa. The reality is 90 to 99% of our men cheat—it’s ingrained in them.”

Akintola went further to say that many men even grew up watching their fathers keep mistresses, normalising the behaviour across generations.

On how women should respond, she urged them to be more realistic about relationships instead of living in denial. Citing celebrity examples, she referenced Beyoncé’s decision to stay with Jay-Z despite his cheating scandal:
“You leave one man because he cheated, you go to another, the same problem. Jessie cheated on Beyoncé. Did she leave? No. So please, let’s talk about the reality we are facing.”

Opinion: Tough Truth or Dangerous Excuse?

Bimbo Akintola’s comments touch on a very uncomfortable truth many avoid: infidelity remains a recurring issue in Nigerian relationships. Her bluntness forces society to confront a cultural history where polygamy and male dominance made cheating appear normal.

However, while her realism is refreshing, it also raises questions. Should women simply accept infidelity as inevitable? Or should society start holding men accountable and redefining what love, trust, and loyalty mean in modern relationships?

Her point about Beyoncé is valid—wealth and fame don’t insulate anyone from heartbreak. Yet, the danger lies in normalising infidelity to the point where women are expected to endure betrayal without demanding better.

Perhaps the real conversation shouldn’t just be about accepting reality, but about changing it. If cheating is “ingrained,” then breaking the cycle requires more open conversations, stronger values around commitment, and men willing to challenge toxic cultural legacies.

At the heart of Akintola’s bold claim is an undeniable fact: love in Nigeria often comes with the shadow of infidelity. The question is—should women adjust, or should men evolve?