“Bride price should be paid to the bride. She is the one who will be stuck with the man” Woman says
A Nigerian woman has proposed modifications to the bride price tradition, emphasizing reform rather than abolition. She suggested that the bride price should be paid directly to the bride since she is the one marrying the man.
Additionally, she believes women should have a say in determining the items on the traditional marriage list. For her future wedding, she expressed a preference for her bride price to go to her mother, with her father and uncles receiving a token gift of “small ogogoro.”
She wrote: “There is a trending story of a man who was given a bride price list that was in millions. “I know a lot of feminist who are against the tradition of bride price… I’m not one of them. “I love the Nigerian tradition so much that I enjoy having cultural conversations with non Nigerians about our traditions and culture. “However, I would like a little bit of changes to be done in some tradition. “1. Bride price should be paid to the bride herself. She would be the one that would be stuck with the Osadebe, so why can’t the money be paid to her? “2. The traditional list should be written and dictated by women. “Women literally go through gates of hell in pregnancy process and giving birth, when one man somewhere who didn’t go through body changes, virginal tear or postpartum depression is sitting down to collect bride prize… “Will you stand up from that seat, Sir?! “The tradition of bride price was created by the patriarchy. “Bride price was created by men for men, so I wonder why the same men are complaining about outrageous lists. What? “Do you want to pay N125 to marry a woman who will go through multiple pregnancy experiences or may even lose her life? And the children would answer your name? “A woman that would wash, cook, clean, nanny, and make the home comfortable while you treat her like a subordinate? “My dear, go and buy those items Are you not a traditional man again? “Bride price should be paid to my mom, and small ogogoro should be given to my Dad and his brothers… “Men appreciate little things sef so don’t stress yourself because of them… Just small Ogogoro and put football make them argue about Ronaldo and Messi, you’re good to go.
