All over Nigeria, bride price is paid by grooms in
return for the family's consent and blessings for the
bride to start a new family but some of these bride
prices are ridiculously high.
According to practice, bride price takes different form
based on traditions and custom of the people.
Sometime, it is an amount of money, property or
other form of payment expected to be made by
prospective groom's family. In Nigeria, the payment
of bride price is essential for the validation of any
marriage regardless of the tribe.
Since there is no uniformity in the practice, here are
some tribes in the Nigeria with a surprising tribe
tradition.
1. Mbaise, Imo State
The ethnic group has one of the most expensive
marriage rituals in Africa.play
Marrying the daughter of an Mbaise family can be
very expensive. If the daughter is educated then the
bride price could go even higher. According to
unwritten tradition of the people, a bride/woman is
an asset to the man.
As such, the Mbaise people demand a bride price
sometimes reaching up to N100,000 accompanied by
a marriage list of things to buy that can total up to
N800,000.
2. Bororo, Adamawa State
This is a Fulani group with large settlement in
Adamawa state.play
The Bororo people are primarily a nomadic ethnic
group. Although not as financially draining as other
ethnic groups, it still requires a large number of
resources.
To marry a Bororo girl, you will be asked to bring live
cattle which is usually between 10 to 50 live cattle.
Also, the wealth of the suitor is also noted to be
considered in fixing the desired bride price.
3. Ikwerre, Rivers State
Wedding is a funfair to the people of Ikwerre in
Rivers state Nigeriaplay
The Ikwerre people have extremely expensive bride
prices and marriage lists produced by the bride's
family. The bride price and marriage list can cost the
suitor up to the sum of N1 million to get his bride.
To the Ikwerre people, their daughters have been
raised with dedication and any man that marries
them should pay handsomely for them.
4. Kalabari, Rivers State
The Groom is expected to pay to have the Bride's
mouth.play
The Kalabari people are also known to have some of
the most outrageous bride price and marriage lists in
Nigeria. For a typical wedding ceremony, the groom is
subjected to many payments, one which include
“buying the bride's mouth”.
A Kalabari wedding can reach the sum of N1 million
and beyond.
5. Ibibio, Akwa-Ibom State
To the Ibibio people, the wedding ceremony won't
end at the reception as there is a street procession
that complete the rites.play
As a result of the Ibibio people being mostly
agriculturalists, they believe that their daughters are
raised to be strong and self-sustaining. Hence they
are seen to have been groomed to support a man
and help him raise a family.
A bride price combines with the list of items
demanded can result in the total of at least N700,000.
6. Efik, Cross Rivers State
The Efik people have one of the robust wedding
rituals in Nigeria.play
Efik people are known to have a rich cultural
background and their marriage ceremonies are a
clear indication of this. The marriage list is generated
based on the financial ability of the suitor.
Among this tribe, the bride price is estimated in Euro.
This practice is attributed to the strong influence of
colonial activities on the people.
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Hmmm! Are we selling our wards? 1M for wife?

This is absurd!