BBC News, Arabic Go to content Main Watch Listen Main Sections News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations Rare Event: Twins Marry Twin Sisters in a Joyful Wedding in Nigeria Image source, AFP via Getty Images
When the guests gathered in a church in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, over the weekend, they realized they were witnessing a rare event.
Twin brothers Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntuoy married twin sisters Taiwo and Kehinde Adedirin in a joyful wedding.
The Yoruba people, who make up the majority of the population in southwestern Nigeria, are known for having many twins, but it is unusual for two pairs of twins to be married on the same day.
Taiwo Oguntuoy told BBC Yoruba on his wedding day: "We know many twins, but this marriage feels like it is by God's doing. We have always dreamed of marrying twin sisters."
He added: "By God’s grace, we pray that God gives us twins in our first and second children. That is our wish."
Twins are viewed as a blessing in Yoruba culture, and their names are predetermined by tradition. The older child is named Taiwo, meaning "the one who comes first", while the younger is named Kehinde, meaning "the one who comes after."
The love story of Oguntuoy-Adedirin began nearly a decade ago when the four of them were studying at the University of Ibadan.
A professor informed the Oguntuoy brothers that he knew of twin sisters they should meet, which piqued their interest.
Taiwo Oguntuoy said: "It’s not that we hadn’t met twin sisters before. We dated some of them, but things didn’t work out sometimes."
Initially, the Adedirin sisters rejected the idea of meeting and did not return the professor’s calls. However, a meeting was eventually arranged.
Taiwo Oguntuoy, now in his early forties, recalls: "Eventually, we visited them, talked with them, but they weren’t interested in a romantic relationship at the time."
Instead, the four became friends, but life took them on different paths. The sisters, who were studying for their master’s degrees in Ibadan, moved abroad to continue their studies, while the brothers traveled and worked in several countries, including the United States and South Africa.
Over time, despite some initial doubts, their bonds became undeniable.
The families of the brides were overjoyed by these relationships. Taiwo Oguntuoy remembers how his relationship with his wife’s family blended immediately, saying: "Everyone was completely happy to see us; it felt like we had known them for a long time. They treated us like sons in our father’s house."
Proud relatives attended the wedding in their finest attire, as the couples coordinated their outfits.
Several other twins were also present, which is not surprising, as the newlyweds are locally known for their support of twin culture. The brothers are known as the "Oguntuoy Twins," and they are active in cultural and tourism initiatives.
The brothers differ in some physical characteristics, being fraternal twins, but their wives are identical twins.
Kehinde Oguntuoy said: "Our wives are so alike that their family members sometimes mix them up. We don’t mix them up; we know our wives well."
The brothers say they share similar personalities with their wives, describing themselves as balanced people, sometimes quiet, sometimes sociable, depending on the situation.
Despite their close bond, each couple will live separately, as Taiwo Oguntuoy stated.
He added: "We have a special plan in this regard, which people will get to know over time."
For now, the couples are enjoying a new chapter in a love story that began with a seemingly perfect meeting but paused for years before ultimately resulting in two of the most famous marriages in the region.