In Somalia twenty-one couples have shared a joint wedding where the economic slump has caused the traditional lavish celebrations to become more a thing of the past.

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.

The strictly Muslim region of the horn of Africa nation had men and women celebrate in separate groups. .

Many young Somalis are leaving their homeland due to increasing costs of having a traditional feast with family and friends.

Somalia