19-Year-Old Indonesian Girl Married to 58-Year-Old Man: "I Will Care for Him Until the End of His Life"

Rejected Proposal to Bride's Mother in the Past
Dowry: 1 Hectare of Land, 770,000 Won
Groom: "I Want to Live as a Farmer Like Now"

Groom Bora (58) and bride Aira (19), who held their wedding on the 7th. Photo by SabahPost, Telegram capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A 19-year-old girl who married a 58-year-old man in Indonesia has attracted attention by stating that "it is a consensual marriage" and "I will take care of him until the end of his life."

According to local media on the 12th, the wedding ceremony of 58-year-old man Bora and 19-year-old girl Aira Fazila was held on the 7th of this month in Bana village, South Sulawesi.

Because of the 39-year age gap, people whispered that young Aira might have been sold due to poverty.

Moreover, it is known that the groom had previously proposed to Aira's mother and was rejected, and there is a kinship relationship between the groom's and bride's families.

Aira's mother, who divorced long ago, raised three children including Aira alone.

Aira said, "I accepted the proposal because my husband Bora is older and has lived alone for a long time," adding, "I want to take care of him until the end of his life."

The groom gave a dowry of 10 million rupiah (about 770,000 KRW) in cash and 1 hectare of land to the bride.

Bora started his newlywed life in his small house after the wedding and said, "I want to live as a farmer like now."

Bora and Aira's newlywed home. Photo by Kompas capture.

Indonesia is considered one of the countries with the highest child marriage rates in the world. According to UNICEF, 7 out of 10 Indonesian girls marry before the age of 18.

Also, cases of marriages with a generational age gap like Aira and Bora are not uncommon.

In October last year, in Subang, West Java Province, 78-year-old Aba Sarna and 17-year-old Noni Navita overcame a 61-year age gap and got married but separated about 20 days after the wedding.

At that time, the groom gave the bride a dowry of 10 million rupiah (about 770,000 KRW) in cash, 11 grams of gold, and a new motorcycle as gifts.

Although the Indonesian parliament raised the legal minimum marriage age for women from 16 to 19 in 2019, child marriages continue with the approval of religious authorities if parents request it.