Bride Price And It’s Two Sides

Bride Price And It's Two Sides
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Bride price, also known as bride wealth, is a token given to the bride’s family by the groom’s family in the form of money, gifts, valuables, etc., in order to ‘seal the deal’ and cement the relations between the two families through a marriage union.

The important aspect of marital rites in Africa is the bride price and it is one thing that is widely acceptable to solidify marriage. According to research, the bride price varies from tribe to tribe and it depends on the custom and traditions of each family. While some believe it is the only way to safeguard their marriages, some feel it is a way of selling off their daughters. Popular feminist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been an outspoken critic of bride price “I think we should get rid of the whole idea of money in marriage, we are not selling anybody.”

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Western values and civilization may have influenced a lot of things in Africa, but the one thing that refused to be influenced is the concept of bride price in an African marriage ceremony. It is a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. No matter the negativity that seems to follow the concept these days, it will be difficult for it to be phased out.

There’s no fixed amount of bride price in Nigeria. It depends on the culture and tradition of a community.

Opinions about bride price

-Some men believe they have bought the women and this promotes marital rape and domestic abuse as the wife is seen as property.

-, in the event of divorce, women are often forced to pay back their bride price. As most women have a little financial backup, they can’t afford the divorce and are often trapped in abusive marriages.

– Igbo bachelors work so hard to be able to pay the bride price. Even men who are not Igbos suffer because they had to marry the Igbo ladies. This in turn makes inter-marriage in Igboland cumbersome.

-It is believed that more people would get married when the issue of bride price is taken away

What is your opinion and experiences about dowry?
Do you want it to be taken off or retained??

You can listen to the podcast on this topic here

Africa Daily News, New York

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