Imagine saying “I do” to someone who’s no longer alive. In South Sudan, this isn't a ghost story, infact, it's a centuries-old tradition. Known as ghost marriage, this unique practice binds the living and the deceased in a cultural ritual that's as intriguing as it is complex.

Here's how it works: If a man passes away before starting a family, his relatives ensure his lineage lives on by symbolically marrying him to a living woman. But wait, there's a twist! A male relative of the deceased, often a brother or cousin, steps in to perform the marital and parental duties on behalf of the late groom. The children born from this arrangement? They belong to the deceased man's lineage. Talk about a family-first philosophy!

For the Dinka and Nuer communities, where this tradition is most prevalent, marriage isn't just a personal affair. It's a cornerstone of family legacy and tribal honor. While ghost marriages may seem eerie to outsiders, they represent a profound cultural commitment to keeping the family name alive- even from beyond the grave.

But this age-old tradition isn’t without its critics. Women in ghost marriages often face limited autonomy and societal expectations that may conflict with modern values. As South Sudan navigates modernization, this custom is increasingly being questioned for its impact on women's rights and personal freedom.

Love after life may sound like a supernatural fantasy, but in South Sudan, it’s a testament to the lengths people will go to honor family ties- even those that extend beyond the mortal realm.