Two men in Kenya have signed a contract to “marry” the same woman, the BBC reported.
The news comes a week after the broadcaster aired a radio programme which said multi-partner relationships could become the norm in the UK.
A BBC Focus on Africa programme reported that Kenyan men Sylvester Mwendwa and Elijah Kimani entered into an agreement with a woman who had been having an affair with both of them.
Contract
The contract sets out a rota for Mr Mwendwa and Mr Kimani to stay in her house and says they will help look after any children she has with them.
For this “marriage” to be legally recognised, it would have to be proved that the practice of a woman having more than one husband is part of the custom of these people, according a Kenyan family lawyer.
But David Okwembah who is a BBC correspondent in Kenya said it is not practiced in any community in the country.
Shocked
He added that local people are shocked at the “marriage”, saying it is not in their culture, religion or law.
The woman, who did not want to be named and is a widow with two children, apparently said she did not want to choose between the two men.
And local news reports say a community policing officer came up with the arrangement after he saw Mr Mwendwa and Mr Kimani fighting over the woman.
Rivalry
Mr Mwendwa told the BBC Focus on Africa programme that he wanted to end his rivalry with Mr Kimani.
He said: “It could have been very dangerous if the other man would have come to her house and caught me”.
He said the contract helps keep the peace.
Documentary
Last week, BBC Radio 4 aired a documentary called Monogamy and the Rules of Love, which featured a number of interviews with people in multi-partner relationships.
And a writer recently commented that in the wake of same-sex marriage, introducing polygamy might not be such a bad idea.