A fresh controversy has erupted across social media following recent comments by former presidential aide and social commentator, Reno Omokri, on the long-standing tradition of bride price in African culture.
In a post shared via his verified X account on Sunday, Omokri boldly asserted that bride price should only be paid for women who are virgins.
According to him, demanding bride price for someone who is not a virgin is, in his words, “nothing short of extortion.”
The statement has sparked intense debates online, especially among cultural conservatives and feminists.
While some believe Omokri is promoting the restoration of cultural values, others argue that his views are outdated and offensive.
He emphasized that the concepts of “dowry” and “bride price” are widely misunderstood and misused in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“There is a huge difference between a dowry and a bride price,” he explained. “But in this part of the world… we use them interchangeably. But they are not interchangeable.”
Explaining further, he said a dowry refers to what a woman’s family gives her as she enters marriage.
A bride price, however, is money or property demanded by the bride’s family but only if she is a virgin.
Citing biblical backing, Omokri referenced Exodus 22:17, stating, “If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.”
He also highlighted the Lukumi Yoruba tradition, where a white cloth is used on the wedding night to confirm virginity.
If not stained, he claimed, the bride price is returned.
Moreover, he added, “If you read Scripture, the term ‘bride’ is never used for a woman who is not a virgin.”
To strengthen his argument, Omokri quoted Isaiah 62:5 and Jeremiah 2:32, stressing that biblical descriptions of brides always associate them with virginity.
He also referenced King David’s marriage arrangements.
“You will notice that David paid a bride price for King Saul’s daughter… However, he did not pay a bride price for Abigail,” he wrote.
In addition to addressing these cultural distinctions, Omokri criticized the trend of lavish white weddings in African settings.
“A White wedding is not our culture in Africa, and it is not a Christian wedding. It is purely a European traditional wedding,” he said.
“If we must adopt that culture, we must appropriate it accurately.”
Furthermore, Omokri expressed concern over Africa’s moral direction.
He warned that ignoring traditional values could fuel rising cases of sexually transmitted infections and social disorder.
“If we in Africa do not return to these traditions… we will continue to be the dregs of the world,” he lamented.
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