A US-based Nigerian woman, Blessing Nwachukwu, has revealed that she refused to have a bride price paid on her during her wedding, emphasizing that marriage is a partnership, not a transaction.
In a Facebook post on Monday, March 3, Nwachukwu, now divorced, recounted how witnessing her cousin’s bride price negotiation shaped her decision. She described the process as dehumanizing, likening it to a business deal where her cousin was treated as a commodity.
“I sat through the entire scene and watched them haggle over the bride price as if my cousin and her fiancé weren’t just two people in love,” she wrote. “At a point, the in-laws even wanted to leave. Eventually, they settled on a price, which, in today’s value, would run into millions, alongside other items like goats and yams.”
Following that experience, Nwachukwu decided she wanted no part of such traditions. She informed her family that if she ever had a traditional marriage, it would involve only a symbolic token amount.
“I am not for sale, no matter how anyone puts it,” she stated firmly. “Why should my husband-to-be be billed to marry me? If anyone bills him, then his people must bill mine so it’s balanced. Marriage is not one-sided; it’s a partnership.”
Despite facing criticism for her stance over the years, Nwachukwu remains unwavering in her belief. “Twelve years later, I still stand by my decision. If you feel some type of way, that’s your problem, not mine. It’s my life and my choice.”
