A young woman who is reported to be the ‘most expensive virgin bride’ in South Sudan has gone viral after her mother says she is only 14 but her father claims she is 19 and is ‘happy to be wed’.
Athiak Dau Riak, who has been featured in the news across Africa for what has been dubbed a ‘historical marriage’ that has divided the nation. The Juba Mirror reported that ’18-year-old’ Athiak had become the ‘centre of attention’ after two men battled to secure her hand in marriage with large dowries- in what has been described by some as a ‘bridal auction’. Others argue the South Sudanese marriage process is ‘a preservation of rich tradition and culture dating back to B.C’.
The South Sudanese girl was also featured in Duchess International Magazine ‘ for inspiring and showcasing women’, a publication with offices near Gatwick Airport and a contact number with an area code in Ireland – calling the bids ‘impressive’ and describing her ‘two wealthy suitors’ – both men in their 40s. One of the men was called a ‘formidable opponent’ by the magazine for offering 350 cows, a Toyota V6, and a standalone four-bedroom house for Athiak’s family. Duchess Magazine called the wedding a ‘grand affair’, telling of how the potentially underage girl wore a ‘flowing red dress and a flywhisk’.
In the city of Juba in June, on the bank of the White Nile, groups of Dinka gathered to celebrate Athiak’s marriage: women wearing printed skirts and body paint, several donning lawas – a long piece of colourful cloth tied at the shoulder and an array of vivid coiled waist beads, while men danced in unison with long sticks, as per tradition. The festivities had followed an intense ‘marriage competition’ where the ‘highest bidder’ was celebrated in preparation the new bride to be handed over to his own Awulian chiefs.
For several months two suitors had been vying for the hand of Athiak- Marial Garang Jil and Chol Marol Deng. Chol Marol Deng ‘won’ Athiak, who was said to be ‘seven foot tall, 19 and a virgin’ after offering 123 cattle, 120million South Sudanese Pounds (£67,968) in cash and a plot of land.
Athiak’s father, Dau Riak Magany says that his daughter fully consented to the marriage, despite the fact that she was reported to be still in primary school when marriage negotiations commenced in March of this year. Her mother, Deborah Kuir Yach, strongly opposes the marriage and has gone into hiding for her own safety after claiming to have evidence her daughter is underage.
“There is nothing wrong with this marriage,” her father said at the time, after a committee of Athiak’s male family members declared Chol the ‘winning’ suitor on June 13th.
Garang Mayen Riak, a cousin of Athiak who travelled from Canada for the ceremony, agreed, “We’re an educated family – we cannot force a girl to marry,” he said, “This marriage is unique, because such competitions rarely happen in our modern society. We’re proud of it because it reminds us of who we are.”
However claims from Athiak’s Uncle, Daniel Yach,[on Facebook as CeeWai Gees], who lives in Canada, prompted concerns about the young bride’s true age. He posted on Facebook in May: “Both of these men are significantly older probably in their 40s and 50s. Dan[Chol Marol Deng] has a beautiful family that am sure he’s proud of as can be seen on the cover of his Facebook profile.
“Apparently one of his daughters is of the same age as Athiak if not a few years shy.
Underage marriage in South Sudan is illegal, yet due to the frequency of child brides being wed to much older suitors in the countryside, unlawful nuptials rarely make waves. However in the case of Athiak, of the Dinka – one of the largest ethnic groups in Sudan, the issue of underage marriage in the African country has been brought to the fore. The highly publicised union has been said to polarise the girl’s family, and media attention has sparked a clash of opinions throughout the country about the lax legislation.
The dispute may have remained domestic if the nation had not been captured by the extravagant bidding process, with pictures and videos of the wedding ceremony rapidly spreading on social media. People were ‘polling’ their preferred suitor during the dowry contest and gathered to watch the marriage online from their homes, with some commenting Athiak was a ‘pure African Queen’ and a ‘princess’. Many extended their congratulations to the newlyweds. Other videos showed Athiak smiling as she had her hair and make-up done.
Aluel Atem, an African Activist said that Athiak will ‘take pride in her brideprice as there is status attached,’ also stating that the young girl ‘had no choice.’
News Outlet Voice of Juba shared a clip of Athiak in a long green dress with her sisters, racking up 16K views and hundreds of divisive comments.
One Facebook user said: “This girl was supposed to be given a chance in life, marriage is not an achievement.”
Another commented: “Married without a choice, bought without a say, submitted to a lifetime of being a servant. I blame poverty.”
“After giving 200-500 cows, the man will start to treat her like trash,” one woman wrote a Facebook Reel of the wedding day, “They buy her and it will be a do-or-die marriage.”
Many said Athiak was ‘just obeying her family’ and ‘looks sad all the time’, with others saying she is ‘too young to be married, let her reach the age of 25’.
Voice of Juba also claimed in a TikTok video that the newlywed couple had ‘eloped to Nairobi’ and ‘not all the pledged cows’ have been received by the family. The news outlet has also reported that the plots of land offered ‘do not exist’ and Chol has ‘exhausted all his money’. Following these reports Voice of Jaba says that Athika’s family has ‘demanded accountability’ from Dau Riak Magany, who has a separate legal case opened up against him relating to the marriage.
The South Sudan Police Service have confirmed that Dau Riak is facing charges related to marrying off a minor.
The Service deputy spokesperson, Brig Gen James Dak, told Radio Tamazuj that Dau was arrested following a complaint filed by human rights activist and lawyer Josephine Adhet, who was calling for Athiak’s return from Kenya – where she was taken shortly after the ceremony.
Dak disclosed that Dau was released on bail pending further investigation, adding that the investigators were tasked with determining the true age of the bride.
Since the viral wedding, several fake Facebook profiles of Athiak have appeared on Facebook and Instagram, using photos of the Sundanese teen seen in news coverage of the bidding war and celebrations, these profiles are thought to be designed as ‘red herrings’ to ‘throw off anyone trying to contact the bride’ in Kenya.
“I was very shocked because I had not seen Athiak since I left to Canada in 2015,” Daniel Yach revealed in a phone call to the Guardian “By then she was six years old. Then I saw the posts about the marriage and I discovered how tall she had become.
“But she’s just a child. This little girl is being brainwashed. It’s the craziest stuff ever.”
Sarah Diew Biel, a protection manager for the South Sudanese development organisation Nile Hope has been reported as saying: “When you’re going against a thousand people who are saying ‘this marriage is OK’, you become a traitor in the eyes of the community, with a khawaja [foreigner] mentality. It’s mentally and emotionally draining.”
Athiak has never spoken publicly about the dissension surrounding her marriage. However, prior to the traditional riverside ‘agam’ celebration in June, she expressed to the Guardian that, had the marriage process not started, she would have “preferred to study”.
