Friday, November 17, 2006
Hargeysa, Somaliland - According to Haatuf Newspaper, a young man has married two women in the same night in Xero-Awr, Hargeysa. Even though polygamy is not uncommon in the Somali culture, marrying two women in the same night is only the second time it has been heard of in Somalia. This wedding surprised many Somalis and would even be a stranger in present day western societies.
The groom, Ismail Osman Abdillahi and the prides Gaasira Muhumed Husein and Shukri Osman Ahmed reportedly had a lavish wedding attended by a large crowd who were surprised by this rare wedding.
“It is a destiny that I bring my two wives home in the same night”, said the groom Ismail Osman Abdilllahi in response to a question about how he managed to marry two women in the same night.
On the other hand, the two prides reportedly said that they are happy to have a shared wedding with their husband.
This is the second time similar event took place in Somalia and is very unique to the Somali Culture. The other wedding happened in the village of GARABIS south-west of Hargeysa.
GARABIS, Somaliland
There are many groups in Somalia, particularly women’s groups who oppose to these kinds of weddings.
Source: Haatuf News, Translated by Mohamed Amin of HOL.