Nigeria's mass wedding - and how telling lovers from fraudsters is proving tricky
The scheme is for couples who cannot afford the significant financial costs associated with marriage.
In Kano, a city in northern Nigeria, a mass wedding event saw 1,500 couples tie the knot over the past week, with all new wedding attire funded by the Kano state government. The celebrations brought a vibrant atmosphere to the city, with streets bustling with bridal parties and their families preparing for the festivities.
On Friday, the main ceremony took place at the Emir's palace, where brides in red hijabs and grooms in matching red hats and white robes were officially united in marriage by the city's traditional Muslim leader. The nuptials concluded on Saturday with a wedding breakfast hosted by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who extended his blessings to the newlyweds.
The Kano state government spearheaded this initiative, investing 1.5 billion naira ($1 million; £815,000) to support the couples. This financial assistance covered the bride's dowry and provided furniture for their first homes. The program is designed to assist low-income individuals who face significant financial barriers to marriage.
The annual event, which began in 2012 with 100 couples—primarily widows and divorcees—has grown in scope under successive governors. Demand has increased each year, leading to the inclusion of individuals in polygamous Muslim marriages. This year, 5,000 couples applied to participate.
The Hisbah, Kano's Islamic police force, oversees the event, with a primary responsibility of vetting prospective couples. Kano, a predominantly Muslim city, operates under Sharia law alongside the secular legal system. Mujahid Aminudeen, deputy commander-general of the Hisbah, acknowledged the difficulty of this task. He told the BBC, "Whenever we find out that there's something dubious or fishy about a couple, we disqualify them." He noted that some couples go to great lengths to feign genuine affection, primarily motivated by the benefits offered.
The state government allocates approximately 1 million naira ($735; £544) per participating couple. According to the Hisbah, this support package includes essential household items for a new home, such as beds, mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, furniture, and food supplies. Each bride receives a dowry of 100,000 naira, with an additional 100,000 naira provided as start-up capital to encourage small-scale entrepreneurship and foster financial independence after marriage.
All aspiring couples must undergo comprehensive medical examinations, including tests for HIV, hepatitis, pregnancy, and genotype compatibility, before being approved for the program. Aminudeen revealed that some couples were disqualified after being caught altering their medical test results. In one instance, a prospective bride attempted to present her brother as the groom to benefit from the scheme.
Local journalist Yusuf Ali Abdallah, who has covered the mass weddings for years, attributed the increased desperation among applicants this year to Nigeria's struggling economy. He told the BBC, "As we all know, marriage involves spending money and the country's economy is not bright at the moment. This makes some people desperate to get on this list." He also mentioned a case where an already married couple tried to pose as an intending pair but were detected and removed from the program.
Other opportunists have attempted to exploit those eager to join the sponsored list, which was made public two weeks prior. One anonymous Kano resident claimed he was asked to pay a bribe to be included on the list. He clarified, "But to be fair to the organisers, I later found out those who asked me for money were not Hisbah staff." Although he and his fiancée were not selected for this August's wedding, he plans to try again next year.
Aminudeen confirmed that the Islamic police were aware of such allegations: "We have found that there are some people asking others to pay certain money so they can make the list." However, the Hisbah officer assured future applicants that the entire process is free of charge. "We want to announce to the people of Kano that the whole process is free: from the selection to the medicals and the goods set aside for couples - all are covered by the government."
Rabiu Yusuf, a 43-year-old clothes trader and one of the successful grooms, confirmed that his application process was smooth. He told the BBC, "Personally, no-one asked me for anything. I was told the government would sponsor it all." His new wife, Aisha Auwal, was a regular customer at his shop. Yusuf, who has five children with his first wife, expressed his joy and eagerness to start a new life with his customer-turned-bride.
Amina Alhassan, 24, echoed these sentiments, stating she encountered no issues when applying to marry 40-year-old Nura Abdullahi. Their union was initially arranged by their families in Dambatta village before they presented themselves to the Hisbah. "Everything has been free and I want to commend the Kano government for this scheme because without it, many couldn't have afforded to marry due to the high cost of living."
Following Saturday's wedding feast, the distribution of household goods commenced. The excitement in Kano is expected to continue for several more days as the newlyweds settle into their new homes.