Sanele Masilela, 8, marries woman, 61, in South Africa
Eight-year-olds aren't usually known for their rock-solid good
judgment, but one South African mother decided to fulfill her son’s
bizarre request anyway.
This weekend, 8-year-old Sanele Masilela got married to 61-year-old mother of five Helen Shabangu, who already has a husband. Sanele was the one who requested the union, claiming his dead ancestors — otherwise known as ‘imaginary friends’ here in the U.S. — told him to arrange the marriage.
The couple, resembling more of a grandmother-grandson pair, swapped rings in Tshwane, South Africa and even shared a kiss in front of 100 friends and family.
Masilela's family spent nearly $2,000 on the affair, which included a poufy white dress for the already married bride and a snazzy suit for the second-grader.
Luckily, the two did not sign a marriage license and will not live together, so it will not be a legally binding marriage.
In certain cases, parents should probably just say no to their children, usually because their requests can teeter on the ridiculous side. But for whatever reason, Masilela's mother decided to take his request seriously.
“I told my mother I wanted to get married as I really did want to,” he said, “I’m happy that I married Helen. When I’m older I will marry a lady my own age.”
Patience, the boy’s 46-year-old mother, said, “Sanele’s grandfather asked him to get married before he died. He chose Helen because he loves her.” She was also convinced by Sanele’s argument that it was what the ancestors wanted.
“By doing this we made the ancestors happy. If we hadn’t, something bad would have happened in the family,” she said.
This weekend, 8-year-old Sanele Masilela got married to 61-year-old mother of five Helen Shabangu, who already has a husband. Sanele was the one who requested the union, claiming his dead ancestors — otherwise known as ‘imaginary friends’ here in the U.S. — told him to arrange the marriage.
The couple, resembling more of a grandmother-grandson pair, swapped rings in Tshwane, South Africa and even shared a kiss in front of 100 friends and family.
Masilela's family spent nearly $2,000 on the affair, which included a poufy white dress for the already married bride and a snazzy suit for the second-grader.
Luckily, the two did not sign a marriage license and will not live together, so it will not be a legally binding marriage.
In certain cases, parents should probably just say no to their children, usually because their requests can teeter on the ridiculous side. But for whatever reason, Masilela's mother decided to take his request seriously.
“I told my mother I wanted to get married as I really did want to,” he said, “I’m happy that I married Helen. When I’m older I will marry a lady my own age.”
Patience, the boy’s 46-year-old mother, said, “Sanele’s grandfather asked him to get married before he died. He chose Helen because he loves her.” She was also convinced by Sanele’s argument that it was what the ancestors wanted.
“By doing this we made the ancestors happy. If we hadn’t, something bad would have happened in the family,” she said.
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