This bride price issue in recent times has been of much concern to every reasonable adult. There have been many debates about it both on social media and in youths public gathering. The bride price in igbo land is a symbol of respect and pride to the husband as it is believed that once a man is able to fulfill this, he have proved to his in-law that he is financially, emotionally and physically ready for marriage. The bride price in igbo land ranges from as low as 25 naira in some community to as high as 150,000 naira in other community. There's this argument in the favor of high bride price that it makes a man respect and value the wife, most men see a high bride price as a means of exploitation especially if the groom is a rich dude. The parents of the bride will always stick to the word tradition and umunna when fishing out the long list like a bet9ja ticket. It is becoming so worrisome that most young boys in their mid 20 and 30 always lose interest when topics relating to marriage is raised.
If bride price especially the high bride price as claimed by most families is a tradition in the community, are we not suppose to adjust tradition as times change, please am not saying that bride price should be out of the picture. What is the essence of us being human if we cannot adjust to common change.
Will it not be of best interest for the government to intervene in the issue of marriage bride price. There should be a way to regulate the amount paid by the groom in taking a lady as a wife. Most people will argue against this, telling you that government has no business with tradition.. Are you serious thinking about that? Have we forgotten so soon that the kingship of igbo land has always been left for the gods to appoint and whosoever the gods appoint will be given the ofor as a symbol of power. In present times, the kings depend on government for certificate of office and if the government does it issue a certificate of office to any of these kings, such king will not be recognized. The reason for that is to check some of the excess of these kings. If the government can control the kingship and getting it right sometimes, I think we should allow the legislative arm of the government to deliberate on the high rate of bride price paid in some community and come out with a standard price which families will charge their prospective in-laws .
Most families will explain how they suffered to train their child in the University and how they want you to cherish their daughters. What a lame excuse. Is it not your responsibility as a father to train your child academically, physically and spiritually? Is the groom suppose to bear the cost of a father carrying out his fatherly responsibility? If all grooms bore the cost of the father carrying out his fatherly responsibility, who will now pay the groom for taking care of the daughter for the rest of her life when he is married to your daughter. For love and cherish as some persons will claim, a wife beater will always remain a wife beater. In fact it will be hell for the bride if a wife beater and an abuser end up paying high to marry you. He will make sure that your body remit all those money he used to take you as a wife.
Bride price is a tradition that will always remain in igbo land but fathers will got to be reasonable about it. You giving out your daughter for marriage and not selling her out as a property.

Chukwuka Walter Chinedu