Meet the Tanzanian man with 16 wives, over 200 children and grandchildren: Video
In the Njombe village of Tanzania, 86-year-old Mzee Ernesto Muinuchi Kapinga leads an extensive family comprising 16 wives, 104 children, and 144 grandchildren.
His homestead resembles a bustling community where everyone participates in family life, like a unique social structure.
Kapinga's marital journey commenced in 1961, embracing polygamy under the influence of his father's encouragement in the 1960s.
A year later, after marrying his first wife, he had his first child, and his father encouraged him to expand the family, even offering to pay dowries for more wives.
Eventually marrying 20 women, Kapinga now lives with 16, including seven sisters who chose to marry him due to his admirable qualities.
Despite the size of his family, jealousy is not an issue in Kapinga’s home, where each wife has individual homes and kitchens.
"This is not just a home; it is a system, and it works,” Kapinga explained.
Kapinga is known to be a fair and understanding husband, keen to hear his wives of their issues instead of imposing authority. Conflicts that arise are often settled amicably among the wives or brought to him for resolution.
The family achieves self-sufficiency through farming practicalities, cultivating crops such as corn, beans, cassava, and bananas, supplemented by livestock.
Despite occasionally forgetting names among his numerous offspring, Kapinga vividly recalls them upon sight. His family has not been without tragedy, as he has mourned the loss of 40 children due to health issues and accidents.
Nevertheless, he maintains a focus on his family’s welfare. "This family runs because of the women; I am only here to guide them," Kapinga said.
