Blessing Nwachukwu, a US-based Nigerian woman, has shared her decision to refuse a bride price during her wedding. Now divorced, Nwachukwu revealed this in a Facebook post on March 3.
She explained that the choice stemmed from a personal experience at her cousin’s bride price negotiation. Despite women typically not being allowed in such settings, she was present as the photographer.
Nwachukwu recalled the moment when her cousin’s negotiation felt more like a transaction than a celebration of love. “I sat there as they bargained over her price as if she were a product,” she wrote. “The in-laws even threatened to leave before settling on a high bride price, which, in today’s currency, could run into the millions. This, alongside other items like goats and yams, was justified by claims about her master’s degree.”
After witnessing this, Nwachukwu told her mother she was not interested in a traditional marriage that involved a bride price. “I didn’t want to be bought,” she said. “If there had to be a dowry, I’d prefer it be a symbolic amount, maybe even just a dollar, to avoid treating me as property.”
Her stance sparked controversy when she first shared it online in 2013, with many claiming she’d regret her decision. Twelve years later, she remains firm in her belief. “Why should my future husband pay a price to marry me? Marriage is about partnership, not transactions. If my family bills him, then his should bill mine for balance.”
Nwachukwu added, “Marriage is about mutual respect, not a price tag. No one should feel like they ‘bought’ me. This is my life and my choice. If you don’t agree, that’s fine, but this is how I feel.”
Her bold perspective challenges long-held cultural traditions and sparks reflection on the meaning of marriage and womanhood in modern society.
