ETHIOPIAN MAN WITH 77 CHILDREN

East_African · (#1 (**permalink**))

An Ethiopian man with 11 wives and 77 children is urging people not to follow his example and is giving advice on family planning and contraception.

After seeing his fortune disappear under the competing demands of his enormous family, Ayattu Nure, 56, even urges people not to get married.

"I want my children to be farmers but I have no land, I want them to go to school but I have no money," he says.

But his eldest son has not heeded Mr Ayattu's advice and he has three wives.

Share wealth

Seven of Mr Ayattu's wives live in huts around his compound, which are in urgent need of renovation.

Another four live in huts on the other side of the valley in Giwe Abossa village, 300km from the capital, Addis Ababa in Arsi region.

He says he cannot remember all his children's names but tries to work out who they are from their mothers and which huts they live in.

Mr Ayattu says he used to be rich and wanted to share his wealth around, which is why he took so many wives.

But now he struggles to feed them all.

"I feel like killing myself when I see my hungry children whom I cannot help," Mr Ayattu says.

His wives have given birth to more than 100 children but 23 have died.

School photos

However, he blames Ethiopia's government for not doing more to help him look after all his children.

People see me as a funny man, but there is no fun in my condition

Ayattu Nure
"I know I have done wrong by marrying many wives and begetting many children but I think I deserve help from the government."

But his biggest complaint at the moment is with the authorities of the local school which 40 of his children now attend.

They want photographs for each of his children's files, which will further deplete his meagre resources.

He says that he tries to share his time evenly between his wives and children, adding that although quarrels and squabbles are common, they try to solve their problems amicably.

"People see me as a funny man, but there is no fun in my condition. I am a desperate man struggling to survive," he says.

Although Mr Ayattu's eldest son, Dagne Ayattu, does not have a job, at the age of 33, he has seven children and is about to marry his fourth wife.

But he says he will not have as many children or wives as his father.

MarcusGarveyLives · (#2 (**permalink**))

Thank you for cutting and pasting this from the BBC Online website.

The story was published on 27 July 2005.

What is the current count?

Miss Nellia · (#3 (**permalink**))

Something very wrong with this... tradition or not.... I don't how he can love and nurture every single one of those 77 children.... the man's a sex addict that's all.

If there is only 7 days in the week, how does he keep 11 women happy... just wam bam thank you ma'am, I guess.:P:P:P
11 wives????

Then I read on another thread about feminism being a western phenomenon not African.... is this what they want us to return too. HELL NO!!!!!!!

Incognito · (#4 (**permalink**))

Thinkwe as parents have changed - our children are nowalso our friends but still nothing like seeing a traditional family were men and women knew their roles

DSP · (#5 (**permalink**))

Miss Nellia wrote:

Quote:

Then I read on another thread about feminism being a western phenomenonnot African.... is this what they want us to return too. HELL NO!!!!!!!

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Now you know that's not a fair statement Miss Nellia. Either you're being very manipulative or yourreasoning only deals in extremes Everything is not black and white or only 2 absolute alternatives as you posted.

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It's obvious one can't satisfy so many, at the same time let's not put "feminism" on a pedistal.

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Most people know dealing with one wife is more than enough to send any man nuts.

Quote:

Miss Nellia · (#6 (**permalink**))

DSP wrote:

Quote:

Miss Nellia wrote:

Quote:

Then I read on another thread about feminism being a western phenomenonnot African.... is this what they want us to return too. HELL NO!!!!!!!

Quote:

Now you know that's not a fair statement Miss Nellia. Either you're being very manipulative or yourreasoning only deals in extremes Everything is not black and white or only 2 absolute alternatives as you posted.

Quote:

It's obvious one can't satisfy so many, at the same time let's not put "feminism" on a pedistal.

Quote:

Most people know dealing with one wife is more than enough to send any man nuts.

Quote:

@DSP
So how does it work then???? Are you saying these women are satisfied elsewhere... if so, then what has happened to the sanctury of marriage.... don't get me wrong.. hard core feminists get on my nerves, I do believe that men and women have roles, but I draw the line on this foolishness... no offence!! but Mr 11wives&77children values does make some feminists views look attractive.

Quote:

CeeCee · (#7 (**permalink**))

East_African,

He should have just stopped when he knew he could afford to feed the mouths of those many chidlren and his wives. Even if this guy was in the western he would have serious problems do all of that. It's too late now. The only thing he can do is to let people learn from his his mistake.

BlackBeauty365/24/7 · (#8 (**permalink**))

Miss Nellia wrote:

Quote:

Something very wrong with this... tradition or not.... I don't how he can love and nurture every single one of those 77 children.... the man's a sex addict that's all.

If there is only 7 days in the week, how does he keep 11 women happy... just wam bam thank you ma'am, I guess.:P:P:P
11 wives????

Quote:

Not much different to European men fathering loads of children in colonised Europe, Asia, Africa, Austrlasia, and the americas. confused3

Quote:

In western civilization, yes it is quite a shock but in other parts of the world it is a way of life. Some people don't have time to think about the consequences for having so many children, fortunately for the "first-world" countries have already mapped it out: contraception, condoms and all sorts.

Quote:

You sound like polygamy is something alien to you - well it is not. I don't really think its about keeping 11 wives "happy" - obviously not. In parts of Africa and other parts of the world abundant offspring and wives/mistresses makes men wealthy.

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How can you call it wrong?Do they have the same morals as Europeans? No.

Black Aviator · (#9 (**permalink**))

the bbc have an obsession with our birth rate at present.

why do you think?

Burning Spear · (#10 (**permalink**))

This guy just loves to f*** plain & simple.Cultural norms be damned.Not a western or African phenomenon.The gentleman is just a walking seman sample.

His son is an idiot though.

Miss Nellia · (#11 (**permalink**))

BlackBeauty365/24/7 wrote:

Quote:

Not much different to European men fathering loads of children in colonised Europe, Asia, Africa, Austrlasia, and the americas. confused3

What's this got to do with the 'price of fish' as they say..... this still does not make it right whether it happens in the West or not, like making a camparison to the west somehow validates this practice. It still doesn't explain to me how this man effectively nutures and provides for this many children let alone the wives.

Quote:

In western civilization, yes it is quite a shock but in other parts of the world it is a way of life. Some people don't have time to think about the consequences for having so many children, fortunately for the "first-world" countries have already mapped it out: contraception, condoms and all sorts.

Quote:

You sound like polygamy is something alien to you - well it is not. I don't really think its about keeping 11 wives "happy" - obviously not. In parts of Africa and other parts of the world abundant offspring and wives/mistresses makes men wealthy.

Quote:

How can you call it wrong?Do they have the same morals as Europeans? No. Again making comparisons to the Europeans..... I don't really care what they do.... and yes it is strange to me but not unheard of, I know it is custom in many cultures, I still think it is wrong, sorry!!!!!......also I don't know how this can be a sign of wealth when the man is complaining about being broke. The man himself is even complaining about this practice....so what are you on about?????????confused3confused3confused3confused3

BlackBeauty365/24/7 · (#12 (**permalink**))

Nellia, wealth can mean abundance aswell...doesn't have to involve money. Poor men in some cultures marry many women to show that they are a man. That in itself is wealth.

I'm just tryin to say that this happens in many cultures. We don't know what was going on in the man's mind - sexual freak or whatever.