In a quiet village nestled between the hills of southeastern Nigeria, traditions held as tightly as the fabric of a mother’s wrapper. Among them was the age-old custom of the bride price—not just as a transaction, but as a symbol of respect, honor, and union between families.
Adaeze was the pride of her father’s house—intelligent, beautiful, and strong-willed. She had fallen in love with Chike, a humble teacher from the neighboring village. Their love blossomed like the orange hibiscus in the courtyard. But love, in their culture, was never enough.
When Chike’s people came for Adaeze’s hand in marriage, her uncles presented a long list: twenty tubers of yam, ten crates of malt, two goats, a bag of salt, wrappers, palm wine, and a sum of one hundred thousand naira. Chike’s family gasped, but said nothing. They returned home, burdened by tradition.
Days turned to weeks. Adaeze’s heart ached. She began to question why her worth had to be measured in goods and money. Her father, too, watched in silence, remembering his own struggles as a young man trying to marry Adaeze’s mother.
Finally, he gathered the elders.
“My daughter is not for sale,” he said. “Let love lead.”
He slashed the list by half, keeping only the symbolic items. When Chike returned, he brought everything joyfully. The village rejoiced in a simple but rich traditional wedding, where culture met compassion.
Adaeze and Chike became a symbol of change—where tradition was honored, but not at the cost of love.
The Bride Price
