In a sleepy village known as Slovo Park near Siyabuswa, South
Africa, villagers were torn with joy and surprise as they witnessed a
rather strange wedding where a mother and son exchanged wedding
vows.
Africa, villagers were torn with joy and surprise as they witnessed a
rather strange wedding where a mother and son exchanged wedding
vows.
The son, a traditional healer from Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga, said
he married his biological mother in awedding ceremony to appease
hisancestors. He now calls his mother “my wife”.
On Sunday more than 2000 people turned up to witness the
wedding of Buti Mphethi, 28, to his mother Francinah Makunyane,
62.
he married his biological mother in awedding ceremony to appease
hisancestors. He now calls his mother “my wife”.
On Sunday more than 2000 people turned up to witness the
wedding of Buti Mphethi, 28, to his mother Francinah Makunyane,
62.
But it wasn’t the kind of marriage where a man takes a wife to love
and have children.
Buti Mhethi married his mother so that she could be accepted into
the Mphethi family.
and have children.
Buti Mhethi married his mother so that she could be accepted into
the Mphethi family.
“The ancestors will reward Buti for what he has done today,” said
his 62-year-old mother, Francinah, whose family name used to be
Makunyane.
his 62-year-old mother, Francinah, whose family name used to be
Makunyane.
Now she is a proud member of the Mphethi family.
But it wasn’t an easy decision for ButiMphethi who dropped out of
his second year studies in sound engineering at the Tshwane
University of Technology in 2003 to become a sangoma. He felt it
was a calling from his ancestors.
When the ancestors first told him to marry his own mother he flatly
refused, and that’s when his troubles began.
his second year studies in sound engineering at the Tshwane
University of Technology in 2003 to become a sangoma. He felt it
was a calling from his ancestors.
When the ancestors first told him to marry his own mother he flatly
refused, and that’s when his troubles began.
The problem was that his father never paid lobola (Bride price) for
his mother and so she was never married and fully accepted into
the family.
Buti said: “My ancestors came to me in a dream while I was a
student at the Tshwane University of Technology in 2003.
his mother and so she was never married and fully accepted into
the family.
Buti said: “My ancestors came to me in a dream while I was a
student at the Tshwane University of Technology in 2003.
“I heeded the call to become a sangoma. But when they came up
with the idea that I should marry my own mother, I flatly refused.”
Buti then took his own wife. But in the four years of their marriage,
she could not give him a child.
He also could not sleep peacefully as bad dreams kept him awake
every night.
with the idea that I should marry my own mother, I flatly refused.”
Buti then took his own wife. But in the four years of their marriage,
she could not give him a child.
He also could not sleep peacefully as bad dreams kept him awake
every night.
Then, without any explanation, his wife left him. His younger
brother’s marriage also didn’t work out and his wife left him as well.
That was when the two brothers realized that they had to heed the
ancestors’ instructions or they would never be happy.
brother’s marriage also didn’t work out and his wife left him as well.
That was when the two brothers realized that they had to heed the
ancestors’ instructions or they would never be happy.
So on Saturday, Buti tied the knot with his mother.
He gave his “in-laws” two cows, and spent R14 000 on the wedding
alone.
He gave his “in-laws” two cows, and spent R14 000 on the wedding
alone.
“I’m glad that I have finally appeased my ancestors and ensured
that my mother is formally accepted in the family. She is now an
Mphethi, as she should have been long ago,” he said.
Buti’s parents separated 15 years ago. His father, William Mphethi,
currently has four wives.
that my mother is formally accepted in the family. She is now an
Mphethi, as she should have been long ago,” he said.
Buti’s parents separated 15 years ago. His father, William Mphethi,
currently has four wives.
Buti’s mum Francinah said she was very happy because she never
believed that she would ever get married and be an Mphethi.
“I am old and getting married was something that I forgot about a
long time ago,” she said.
“But the ancestors will reward Buti for what he has done today.”
believed that she would ever get married and be an Mphethi.
“I am old and getting married was something that I forgot about a
long time ago,” she said.
“But the ancestors will reward Buti for what he has done today.”
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