Tuesday May 20, 2025
Nairobi (HOL) — Religious and community leaders in Ethiopia’s Somali Region have issued a binding decree banning lavish wedding customs that, they say, have burdened families and discouraged young people from marrying.
The decree, backed by local authorities and issued by Hamaro’s Islamic Affairs Council, outlaws practices such as camel slaughtering before weddings, the exchange of expensive engagement gifts, and the widespread expectation of khat and cigarette offerings — customs elders say have turned sacred rituals into financial obligations.
“Marriage is becoming inaccessible,” said Sheikh Abdirahman Rashid, head of the council. “What was once a sacred act has become a performance of wealth. These customs were meant to honour — now, they demand a price.”
Among the practices under scrutiny is gabaati — historically a simple token of goodwill from the groom’s family to the bride’s neighbours. In recent years, it has morphed into a camel-based dowry, expected to be returned after the wedding, yet imposing steep logistical and social costs.
The decree carries legal consequences: anyone who defies the new rules may face fines or imprisonment.
The decree reflects a growing generational divide over marriage customs across the Somali Region. In Godey, a similar community-led effort to cut wedding expenses failed to gain momentum — a sign, elders say, of how deeply entrenched such expectations remain. While many young men support the reforms, hoping to marry without accruing debt, some women have raised concerns.
“If a man pays little, he might treat the marriage lightly,” said one woman in Godey. “He may see it as disposable — and so are we.”
Others argue that traditional dowries, while burdensome, reinforce a man’s responsibility and signal his commitment to the marriage. “In the past, it was hard to marry — but divorces were rare,” another woman added.
Still, community leaders insist the decision is about realigning culture with compassion, and religion with reality.
“If we don’t act now, we risk losing the heart of marriage,” said Sheikh Abdirahman. “We are not rejecting tradition. We are saving it.”
Hamaro’s reforms echo a broader movement across Muslim communities to simplify marriage. In Egypt, Al-Azhar University has called for smaller, more affordable ceremonies to help families avoid debt while preserving the sanctity of the union.
“Marriage is not a transaction,” said Sheikh Abdirahman. “It’s a covenant — and it shouldn’t come with a receipt.”
- With files from the BBC Somali Service