It's not just a double date...

Hard times lead 21 couples to share wedding

HARGEISA, Somalia (Reuters) - Twenty-one couples have shared a joint wedding in Somalia, where the traditional lavish celebrations are increasingly unaffordable at a time of economic slump. [The priest at the wedding was a little white talking rat. Among the congregants were dolphins watching from the ocean coast. I think I finally understand why 42 is the meaning of life.]

The function was held on Tuesday at a hotel in Hargeisa, capital of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, and was arranged by Telsom, a telecoms company that employs all the bridegrooms. [After this the company quickly went bankrupt due to lack of employees for the week following.]

The Horn of Africa region is staunchly Muslim, so the men and women celebrated separately. [Nevermind...]

The expense of a traditional wedding, especially when economic times are hard, is driving some young Somalis to leave their homeland. [Notice: It's the weddings, not the economic hardtimes.]

"One of the reasons why the youth migrate [Good use of the word there.] is weddings are expensive, and I appeal to the community to simplify marriage by reducing the cost," Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh Omar Dirir [One person not 5.], one of the area's most prominent religious leaders, told guests. [Little did you know, rats actually have 5 names.]

(Reporting by Husein Ali Nur; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Phakamisa Ndzamela)