Widower Who Lost Family in Attack Finds Hope at Kano Mass Wedding
A grieving widower remarries at a mass wedding in Kano, Nigeria, where 1,500 couples tied the knot with state support.
For Haruna Bashir, the mass wedding held this weekend in Kano, Nigeria, was far more than a ceremony—it was a chance to rebuild his life after a devastating loss. Earlier this year, Bashir lost his first wife and six children in a brutal attack. The grief had isolated him, but on Friday and Saturday, he stood among 1,500 couples to marry again.
The event was organized by the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, commander-general of the Kano State Hisbah Board, which coordinated the ceremony, said Bashir had hardly interacted with people since the tragedy. "Today, he is gradually returning to normal life," Daurawa said.
The mass wedding, the second under Yusuf's administration, brought together widows and young women. The government aims to ease the financial burden of marriage for vulnerable families. All couples underwent screening and counseling, and religious and legal requirements were fulfilled, according to Daurawa.
Similar ceremonies were held across Kano's 44 local government areas. Each bride received 200,000 naira (about $145) as a dowry and startup capital for a small business. Couples also received household items such as beds, mattresses, blankets, and rugs.
Governor Yusuf described the initiative as a "bold social intervention aimed at restoring hope and supporting dignified family life in Kano." He said the program was designed to assist women who might struggle to afford marriage and to strengthen families and promote social stability.
Kano Chief Imam Prof. Sani Zahraddeen offered prayers for the couples, asking for divine guidance and lasting harmony. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude. Malama Ainau Mudi, a 38-year-old widow, said, "Today's date will never be forgotten in my life. My husband died four years ago, and today I wed my new husband whose love and caring will ease my years of being a widow."
Kano, Nigeria's most populous state and a major center of Islamic culture, has held mass weddings for years to support widows, divorcees, and young women facing economic hardship. The initiative comes amid rising living costs that make marriage difficult for many.
Dr. Musa Abdullahi, a university lecturer and social welfare expert, said such programs could help address social challenges by reducing economic barriers to marriage, but he cautioned that broader economic and social support is needed.
For Bashir, the ceremony offered a new beginning. Like many others, he now has a chance to start again.