CITIZENS COMPASS– The International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC), South Africa, has officiated a mass wedding ceremony for about 1,500 couples on Easter Sunday just as many of them are now polygamists.
The church is known for blending Pentecostal Christian beliefs with African cultural practices, including polygamy. According to church spokesperson Vusi Ndala, the mass wedding is an integral part of the church’s Easter celebrations and reflects its embrace of traditional African values.
“Polygamy is not only embraced but held in high regard in the church,” Ndala said.
The ceremony, held at the church’s massive dome-shaped headquarters in Heidelberg near Johannesburg, was its largest to date. The venue, capable of seating 60,000 people, welcomed thousands of congregants for the occasion.
This year’s turnout far exceeded previous editions, such as in 2023 when about 400 couples tied the knot. Ndala attributed the increase to the number of men marrying multiple wives simultaneously. In several cases, grooms were seen entering the church with both their current wives and new brides.
Some men reportedly married their sixth or seventh wives during the ceremony, as polygamy continues to be widely practiced and legally recognized under South Africa’s customary marriage laws.
Before entering the church for the nuptials, the couples gathered in long white tents set up in open fields adjacent to the building. There, they were provided with bridal flowers, food packs, and bottled water. Brides donned classic white gowns, while many grooms wore matching white suits paired with red ties, creating a visually striking scene as they filed into the church in long queues.
Founded in the early 1960s, the International Pentecost Holiness Church is one of South Africa’s largest African-initiated churches and continues to draw global attention for its fusion of faith and cultural traditions.
