The bride, Evelyn Sekgalakane, sparkled in white as she walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with Shirley Molala, who was about to change into her “sister spouse” at a mass wedding ceremony celebration at a South African church that encourages polygamy.
Behind them got here the groom Lesiba Molala, who was marrying one other spouse on the elaborate ceremony on the Worldwide Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) south-west of Johannesburg.
The polygamous bridal get together was amongst 55 marriages that happened there on Easter Sunday – a loud, lengthy and joyous event.
Solely seven of the unions have been welcoming an additional spouse to the household – however all have been open to doing so sooner or later.
“He’s a God [who approves] of polygamy,” rang out repeatedly throughout the packed auditorium.
Shirley, who’s Mr Molala’s second spouse and has been married to him for 25 years, informed me forward of the large day: “I like polygamy as a result of it’s rooted in Biblical instructing” – a reference to passages within the Outdated Testomony of the Bible.
Evelyn (R) informed the BBC that over the previous few months Shirley (L) had change into her confidante as she ready to marry Lesiba Molala – seen behind them [Nhlanhla Phillips]
She was handpicked by his first spouse, who has since died, whereas a 3rd spouse had additionally joined the household – leaving within the wake of a management row that cut up the congregation.
The 48-year-old defined that as the method of including one other partner had began spiritually, it made it simpler to treat the incoming spouse as a sister and good friend.
“We [first three wives] bought alongside to some extent the place we might put on matching garments. So I learnt this from the Molala household and that is why I used to be in a position to do the identical for Evelyn.”
Earlier than the official begin of the wedding ceremonies – which every concerned an change of rings however no spoken vows – the jubilant congregation gathered outdoors the auditorium at round midday in a riot of color and noise.
Loudspeakers blaring out church songs competed with the cheers of hundreds of well-wishers – a few of whom have been dressed within the church’s blue-and-white uniforms, whereas others sported their Sunday greatest.
Over the subsequent 5 hours bridal events arrived to nice fanfare and tried to outdo each other: one massive contingent of bridesmaids was dressed in numerous shades of electrical lime inexperienced, one other featured a Gucci-clad groomsman.
Beforehand church officers had checked the outfits on the gate to ensure everybody in attendance was suitably dressed – no skimpy outfits, naked arms or trousers allowed for ladies, who additionally needed to cowl their heads, with jackets prescribed for males.
The church has a strict ethical code – the sexes sit individually contained in the auditorium throughout unusual companies and courting is just not allowed.
“I solely discovered about polygamy once I joined the church and was taught that merely courting a lady was not allowed. So as a result of I realised that one lady wouldn’t be sufficient for me, I felt that moderately than cheat, let me get one other spouse,” Lesiba Molala, 67, informed the BBC.
These mass weddings happen 3 times a 12 months on the church’s grand headquarters within the small rural city of Zuurbekom – at Easter, in September and December.
After every wedding ceremony get together’s raucous arrival was over, the group walked a crimson carpet to take images.
Then it was time for the church’s chief, Leonard Frederick G Modise, to reach – and his entrance nearly stole the present.
Known as “the comforter”, he was ushered in – alongside along with his household – by a marching band, horse parade and a sequence of luxurious automobiles, amongst them a midnight sapphire Rolls Royce.
Because the solar started to set, it was time for the official programme to start – with every entourage getting into the auditorium to make their manner slowly down the white-carpeted aisle.
I caught up with the Molala trio earlier than their flip. Evelyn was excited and all smiles about her costume: “I informed you, you wouldn’t recognise me!”
The service, which went on till 22:00, ended with a blessing from Mr Modise for the brand new {couples} and their different spouses – with the festivities happening lengthy into the evening.
Whereas such pageantry is commonly related to weddings right here – albeit not on such a grand scale – a number of marriage ceremonies are uncommon, even in a rustic as various and multicultural as South Africa.
So too is the inclusion of polygamous unions. Whereas polygyny – the wedding of a person to a number of ladies – is allowed in South Africa, such relationships are normally registered as customary marriages and should not celebrated in church.
Nonetheless, the IPHC is one of what’s referred to as an African impartial church, which is allowed to officiate them – so long as the marriages are additionally registered with the nation’s dwelling affairs division.
In accordance with the 2022 census, greater than 85% of South Africans recognized as Christian, adopted by 8%, who stated they practised conventional African beliefs.
A number of church buildings with massive congregations combine each perception methods – just like the IPHC – although mainstream Protestant and Catholic church buildings stay the largest denominations.
For the IPHC, polygamy has been taught and inspired and has “advanced with the church” from its inception in Soweto in 1962 to a congregation at present of three.1 million throughout southern Africa, senior church official Mpho Makwana informed the BBC.
Mr Molala married his first spouse in 1991, six years after becoming a member of the church. She was additionally a member – an vital issue for these trying to take a partner. The church explicitly forbids marriages to outsiders.
9 years later, Mr Molala and his spouse sat down to debate the enlargement of the household. After a church-wide search, the couple settled on Shirley who was then 23.
“I felt vital [because I was] seen among the many many ladies within the church,” she stated.
Evelyn too was chosen after a church-initiated course of that started in February. She admitted it took some time for her to heat to the concept of becoming a member of a polygamous union, although Shirley’s receptive angle made it simpler for her.
The 44-year-old had grown up within the church however later left, happening to have three kids, earlier than returning to the fold a couple of years in the past.
Together with his marriage to Evelyn, Mr Molala has informally adopted her kids, bringing the full variety of his offspring to 13.
Every of his households dwell in separate homes – though Evelyn will be part of him at his dwelling for the early phases of the wedding.
Of the 55 marriages that happened on Easter Sunday on the IPHC, seven have been polygamous [Nhlanhla Phillips]
Polygamy, historically practised in some South African cultures, does divide individuals within the nation. In recent times a number of actuality exhibits have given an perception into life in plural households – and sparked debate about whether or not they’re nonetheless related.
Prof Musa Xulu, a spiritual skilled with South Africa’s Cultural, Spiritual and Linguistics Rights Communities Rights Fee, stated it was frequent to come back throughout households in such unions who had been devastated within the preliminary phases of the HIV/Aids pandemic, which has ravaged South Africa.
The state of affairs had stabilised, although it was nonetheless “an enormous drawback”, he informed the BBC.
Mr Makwana stated the IPHC had addressed this head on – setting up measures a couple of decade in the past to raised defend {couples} and polygamous unions from HIV/Aids after one household’s expertise, which had been an “eye-opener” for the church’s management.
These desiring to get married should first get examined for HIV.
“You possibly can’t proceed with out going via that course of… so there aren’t any surprises forward,” he stated.
The couple should inform one another their outcomes, resolve whether or not to proceed after which the church retains a report on file.
This “100% transparency” additionally lowered the variety of divorces that had typically resulted when deception got here to gentle, he stated.
Prof Xulu stated church buildings just like the IPHC, whereas having an “eclectic method to Christianity” that was “half-Christian, half-African”, did have doctrinal justifications for his or her traditions in addition to “inner dispute-resolution mechanisms”.
“They may help households who’re present process misery,” he stated.
The IPHC is closely concerned within the vetting course of as soon as a proposal has been accepted. It takes a number of months and is marked by three pre-nuptial ceremonies.
Throughout this time, {couples} have been “taken via a non secular technique of guaranteeing they know what they’re committing to”, Mr Makwana stated.
Most {couples} are relative strangers earlier than the formal proposal is made – as was the case for Freddy Letsoalo, 35, and 31-year-old Rendani Maemu.
In addition they tied the knot in Zuurbekom over Easter – each marrying for the primary time.
Mr Letsoalo stated he first noticed his bride-to-be at a good friend’s wedding ceremony almost a decade in the past – additionally celebrated at one of many mass marriage ceremonies.
However they “did not speak or do anything” after their preliminary assembly, he informed the BBC.
“It was love at first sight however keep in mind, we all know… the teachings of our church.”
Rendani Maemu informed the BBC that as she was raised within the church, she at all times knew she may be a “first or second spouse” [Nhlanhla Phillips]
Whereas the 2 would later change into Fb pals, their interactions have been restricted to birthday needs – that was till December 2024 when Mr Letsoalo set the wheels in movement, alerting first his household after which the church’s management of his intentions.
“I wasn’t conscious that he was taken with me. Once I turned conscious… I used to be excited. I’ve at all times dreamt of my wedding ceremony day,” a blushing Ms Maemu, who was raised within the church, informed me earlier than the nuptials.
Her dream got here true and she or he did look resplendent earlier than happening the aisle together with 9 bridesmaids in a crystal-encrusted robe, tiara and a bridal practice a number of metres lengthy.
Whereas the couple are at present targeted on their new life collectively, each are prepared to embrace polygamy ought to the proper alternative current itself sooner or later.
“I do know there’s an opportunity that my husband will wish to enter right into a polygamous marriage,” stated the brand new Mrs Letsoalo.
“I consider in polygamy.”
A view which may be controversial for a lot of South Africans.
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