!['Marriage competition" that gripped and divided a nation 'Marriage competition" that gripped and divided a nation](https://cdn.magzter.com/1588175420/1727999933/articles/OaZc7cwFj1728033257253/MARRIAGE-COMPETITION-THAT-GRIPPED-AND-DIVIDED-A-NATION.jpg)
With thousands of other Dinka, one of the country's largest ethnic groups, they would dance late into the night at the agam (acceptance) ceremony that celebrates the conclusion of a "marriage competition", the traditional practice in which several men vie for the hand of a marriageable girl.
For months, Marial Garang Jil and Chol Marol Deng, two men in their 40s who came from Dinka clans in Jonglei state but now live abroad, had been vying to marry Athiak Dau Riak.
Athiak's father, Dau Riak Magany, said she was 19 and had consented to the marriage, despite the fact that she was in primary 8 year at school (which children usually start at 13) when the marriage negotiations began in March.
Her mother, Deborah Kuir Yach, who opposes the marriage, said she had proof that her daughter is 14.
The case might have remained a family dispute, but the story went viral after images of gatherings were posted online. After the ceremonial part of the wedding in June, when Athiak was given as a wife to Chol Marol Deng -for 123 cattle, 120m South Sudanese pounds ($44,000) and a plot of landshe was described on TikTok as "the most expensive bride in South Sudan".
"There is nothing wrong with this marriage," her father said at the time.
Garang Mayen Riak, a cousin who travelled from Canada for the ceremony, agreed. "We're an educated family-we cannot force a girl to marry," he said.
This story is from the October 04, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 04, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Trump lives in a fantasy political world but reality will prevail Trump lives in a fantasy political world but reality will prevail](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/H80yhJkZM1738912100947/TRUMP-LIVES-IN-A-FANTASY-POLITICAL-WORLD-BUT-REALITY-WILL-PREVAIL.jpg)
Trump lives in a fantasy political world but reality will prevail
Why exactly is Donald Trump's new presidency so disorienting? So far, explanations have tended to focus on its manic pace, contempt for political conventions and blatant subversion of supposedly one of the world's most robust democracies.
!['I curse this war': hunger and fear after rebel takeover 'I curse this war': hunger and fear after rebel takeover](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/BJJY1fZb81738912344256/I-CURSE-THIS-WAR-HUNGER-AND-FEAR-AFTER-REBEL-TAKEOVER.jpg)
'I curse this war': hunger and fear after rebel takeover
People living in Goma on the Democratic Republic of the Congo's eastern border with Rwanda have spoken of their fear and acute hunger after the M23 rebel group swept into the city last week.
![The life aquatic The life aquatic](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/GZ9mxI8EC1738911823935/THE-LIFE-AQUATIC.jpg)
The life aquatic
Adventurers have long wondered if we could live on the seabed. Now, 80 metres below the surface of a flooded quarry in the UK, we are about to find out
![The secret to startup's rapid AI success The secret to startup's rapid AI success](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/Mj-XydnOI1738910603232/THE-SECRET-TO-STARTUPS-RAPID-AI-SUCCESS.jpg)
The secret to startup's rapid AI success
Who is behind DeepSeek and how did it achieve such an impressive feat in such a short time?
My inside story
Louise Lancaster was one of a group of Just Stop Oil activists given the longest-ever UK sentences for peaceful protest after blocking a motorway. Six months into her incarceration, the mother of three adult children reveals what she has learned about life in prison
![What went wrong with the China-funded Dubai 2.0? What went wrong with the China-funded Dubai 2.0?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/T0Q1D-yjI1738912488750/WHAT-WENT-WRONG-WITH-THE-CHINAFUNDED-DUBAI-20.jpg)
What went wrong with the China-funded Dubai 2.0?
The city of Gwadar has a huge new airport, but suspicion of Beijing's true intentions threatens to wreck the project
![Into the deep Into the deep](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/ceNnr7WAA1738910417082/INTO-THE-DEEP.jpg)
Into the deep
The emergence of DeepSeek-a Chinese AI chatbot supposedly developed at a fraction of the cost of Silicon Valley models has stunned the US tech giants and potentially opened up the artificial intelligence race to a host of other players
![Labour is sacrificing all to the god of GDP-and mocking objections Labour is sacrificing all to the god of GDP-and mocking objections](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/qlbwcMrlI1738912183250/LABOUR-IS-SACRIFICING-ALL-TO-THE-GOD-OF-GDPAND-MOCKING-OBJECTIONS.jpg)
Labour is sacrificing all to the god of GDP-and mocking objections
I can scarcely believe I'm writing this, but it's hard to dodge the conclusion. After 14 years of environmental vandalism, it might seem impossible for Labour to offer anything but improvement. But on green issues, this government is worse than the Tories.
![Keeping up with Bridget Jones Keeping up with Bridget Jones](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/pYYCHQ-gf1738912812498/KEEPING-UP-WITH-BRIDGET-JONES.jpg)
Keeping up with Bridget Jones
Nearly 25 years after the first of the films about the ultimate singleton, Renée Zellweger discusses the resting place for her character's massive knickers
![Fright club: why chills are hot Fright club: why chills are hot](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1986735/ZDjIwtH4P1738912927640/FRIGHT-CLUB-WHY-CHILLS-ARE-HOT.jpg)
Fright club: why chills are hot
The paranormal has hit prime time, with scary podcasts and TV shows more popular than ever. Why does the unexplained have sucha holdonus?