Polygamist Musa Mseleku says colonisation and western concept of masculinity ‘demonised’ polygamy

Popular polygamist with four wives and 10 children Musa Mseleku is looking to destigmatise how people perceive polygamy. 

As one of the panelists on Mzansi Magic's upcoming four-part series Black Conversations in partnership with Castle Milk Stout, Musa said he's glad to be finally given a platform to clarify and share his views.

Through his involvement in the shows Uthando Nes'thembu, Mna Kwethu, Igumbi Lamakhosikazi and his fourth one premiering on October 20, Musa said he's been at the forefront of African culture and wants to live it out proudly. 

“Because of colonisation and masculinity, people have associated what we are doing as a dark thing instead of it being a blackness thing,” he told TshisaLIVE. 

“What has also put pressure on us [as black people] was wanting to be accepted by other people, and in that process we have diluted, we have lost our identity. It's only now that people are able to embrace us for who we are because we have boldly come out. If there was no-one taking an initiative to do that, we would still be finding ourselves.”

More conversations around what defines "blackness" and being African need to be shared on big platforms, he said. 

Musa said he's impressed his shows have not been canned over the years but have rather garnered bigger viewership numbers, helping him spread his message to a broader audience. 

“We have done pretty well in the sense that we have proven that isthembu is something we need not shy away from. The other beautiful thing we've proven in the shows is that the power we think men have, they don't have.” 

This year Musa has been candid with his followers about his wishes to take fifth wife, and how his wives had not been accepting his request regardless of how many times he  pleaded with them.

“If I had power, I would have taken number five. It teaches other men that whether you have money or not, are likable or not, you have to listen and respect your family, their contributions and opinions and you need not bully them. Respect people who  are part of your family.”