Tension recently gripped a traditional marriage ceremony in Mbaise, Imo State, when the bride’s family demanded a staggering ₦1 million as bride price. The hefty sum set off a storm of protests, particularly from the groom’s side, leading to a dramatic clash during the event. This latest incident has ignited a broader conversation about the role of traditional customs in modern Nigerian marriages.
The disagreement began when the groom’s family was presented with a bride price demand that many considered unusually high. According to witnesses, the groom’s family, frustrated by the amount, vocally expressed their dissatisfaction. “We are not marrying again, and we are not happy!” some of the youth from the groom’s side shouted in their native Igbo language, visibly upset by the amount requested.
In traditional Igbo weddings, the bride price is a significant part of the marriage rites. It symbolises the groom’s commitment and respect to the bride’s family. However, the figure typically varies, and in many Igbo communities, it is considered a modest sum. But in Mbaise, a growing number of people are starting to question whether the bride price demands are too steep, especially for younger generations.
One source close to the situation explained the frustrations from the groom’s family. “You will pay through noise before you could marry any of their daughters,” they said. “That is why most of their women are still living with their fathers even at 30, 40 years old and are not yet married. The tradition must change to favour the woman in order to make it easier for suitors to come forward. If you think I’m joking, come to Mbaise. Other Igbo tribes have their traditions, but Mbaise’s own is the worst.”
