About 100 people were witness to a most unusual wedding at the
weekend.The bride was 61 years old and the groom was an eight-year-old
boy! Both families were present at the wedding of Sanele Masilela (8)
and Helen Shabangu (61) and the bride's husband and her five children were also at the wedding in Zimbabwe.
The boy's aunt, Patience Masilela (46), explained why the wedding took place.
The boy's aunt, Patience Masilela (46), explained why the wedding took place.
She said: "The boy was named after his late grandfather who never had
a white wedding, so the ancestors told the boy to get married and he
chose Helen to be his bride. The family took his desire to get married
very seriously. They paid for the bride in March last year and spent a
lot on the wedding because they believed it was what the ancestors
wanted."
The bride said: "I'm married and have five kids of my own, but I know
that this is what the ancestors wanted – and now they are happy. It is a
ritual. We are just playing now, but it is a sign that he will get
married one day."
The young groom said: "I told my mother that I wanted to get married
because I really did want to. I chose her because I love her and I'm
happy that I married her – but I will go to school and study hard. When
I'm older I will marry a lady my own age."
The bride's long-time husband, Alfred Shabangu (65), said that he
never had a problem with her marrying the boy because he too knew that
it was what the ancestors wanted. My kids and I are happy. We don't have
any problems with it," he said.
However, some community members said they were shocked.
One woman said: "How can a family go this far for the ancestors? It
shows that people do take messages from the ancestors seriously."
This was a not a legal marriage – it was only done for ritual purposes. The happy couple seal their marriage with a kiss.
