He’s sworn that he will stop at number 201. With a solemn and serene expression that has been witnessed many times, the 68 year old Shehu Malani has declared that his 201st wedding, celebrated recently, will be the last in his life. “There won’t be any more marriages for me, I’ll stay with my current four wives until the end of my days”, he confirmed to the daily ‘Independent on-line’ from the ancient city of Sokoto in Northern Nigeria. In 2004, after the celebration of his 200th marriage, Malani had promised that he would never marry again, but he had not been able to resist and so succumbed to his insatiable desire for women and his need to replace a spouse whom he had recently divorced.
The life of this Nigerian man, known as Maisaje (‘the moustached’) because of his long grey moustache, has been characterised by a never-ending series of love stories. “I have an exceptional thirst for women and my sex drive is rather strong”, Malani proudly confessed to an on-line African daily. In discussing the many glories of marital problems where he has been the protagonist, he added, “all of my marriages have been carried out with good intentions but I have encountered some difficulties”. Yet even though he does not regret the choices he has made, he states that he does not see himself as a good example to his 29 children, who he asks to behave differently. “I always advise them not to do as I have done and I warn young men not to get involved in pointless marriages”.

The Muslim faith allows a man to have up to four wives at the same time and during Malani’s life he has always made good use of this privilege, finding a replacement for every woman he has divorced. Even though Islam discourages divorce and his neighbours disapprove of his frequent marriages, he is convinced that, as long as the Koran allows it, he is doing nothing wrong. His experiences gained in the past 50 years of married life were due to be published in a book, had it not been for the sudden death of a wealthy friend who was taking on the task. “My experience with women is huge. I see myself as a professor of the female world and of female psychology. There is not one type of woman that I have not experienced”, concluded Malani. Perhaps this time, the professor will keep his word.