Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has stirred heated debate online after declaring that only virgins should be considered brides, insisting that demanding bride price for non-virgins amounts to “extortion.”
In a detailed post shared on Sunday via his official X handle, Omokri criticised what he described as the misinterpretation of marriage rites across Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the confusion between “dowry” and “bride price.”
“Bride Price Is For Virgins Only”
According to him, dowry and bride price are two distinct practices with different origins and meanings.
“A dowry is the money and property given to a female child by her parents on her wedding day, which she takes to her husband’s house. It becomes their joint property,” Omokri explained.
“In contrast, a bride price is the money or property given by a man to the family of a virgin woman to marry her. This is backed by Exodus 22:17 and African traditions, such as the Lukumi Yoruba custom, where failure to confirm the bride’s virginity on the wedding night leads to a return of the bride price,” he stated.
Omokri stressed that collecting money for a woman who is not a virgin under the pretense of bride price is misleading and dishonest. “The excessive demand for money and property by some Sub-Saharan African ethnicities for a woman who is not a virgin is neither legally nor technically a bride price — it is extortion,” he argued.
Biblical References and Traditional Backing
Citing several Bible verses including Isaiah 62:5, Jeremiah 2:32, and Song of Solomon 4:12, Omokri maintained that the concept of a “bride” in Scripture is synonymous with virginity.
He also cited biblical examples to support his claim, noting that while David paid a bride price for Michal, King Saul’s daughter, he did not do the same for Abigail, a widow whom he married later.
“Scripturally, the term ‘bride’ is never used for a woman who is not a virgin,” he said, adding that bridehood is tied to sexual purity in both African and biblical traditions.
Calls for Return to Traditional Norms
Omokri expressed concern about what he termed “moral decay” in African societies, warning that failure to uphold traditional values could lead to continued social and developmental setbacks.
“If we in Africa do not return to these time-honoured traditions… we will remain at the bottom rung of global development, plagued by high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and broken homes,” he warned.
Rejects White Wedding as “Un-African”
The outspoken commentator also criticised the widespread adoption of white weddings across Nigeria and Africa, describing it as a misplaced imitation of European customs.
“White wedding is not an African or Christian tradition. It is European. And in the real European custom, it is the bride’s father who pays for the wedding — not the groom or his family,” he stated.
He ended his post with a jab at families who demand large amounts during marriage rites, referring to them as “Industrial Money Obtainers.”
Omokri’s comments have since generated reactions across social media platforms, with many Nigerians divided over the cultural, religious, and moral dimensions of his views.
