Which Nigerian States Have the Highest Bride Price?

In Nigeria, bride price is a key part of traditional marriage. It is a payment made by the groom and his family to the bride’s family as a sign of respect, appreciation, and commitment. 

While bride price varies across the country, some states are known for having the most expensive requirements.

Imo State (Mbaise People)Getting married to a woman from Mbaise in Imo State is considered one of the most expensive in Nigeria. The Mbaise people take bride price very seriously, and their traditional marriage list, known as Ime Ego, is filled with numerous costly requirements.

Before a man can marry a woman from Mbaise, he must go through several traditional steps. 

The process includes paying respect to the bride’s family, providing gifts for extended family members, and completing multiple cultural rites. The final stage involves fulfilling the official marriage list, which contains several items that can cost over a million naira. This makes Mbaise one of the places with the highest bride price in the country.

Adamawa State (Bororo Fulani People)In Adamawa State, particularly among the Bororo, a subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group, the bride price is extremely high. Unlike in other places where cash is the primary requirement, the Bororo demand livestock—especially cows—as part of the marriage process.

Cows are a major symbol of wealth and status in their culture. The number of cows required for a marriage can range from ten to fifty, depending on the family’s status and the bride’s background. 

Given the high market value of cows in Nigeria today, this tradition makes marriage among the Bororo people one of the most expensive in the country.

Rivers State (Kalabari, Ikwerre, Okrika, Ogoni People)In Rivers State, several ethnic groups, including the Kalabari, Ikwerre, Okrika, and Ogoni, have expensive marriage traditions. Their bride price requirements often go beyond money and material items, making it a costly affair for grooms.

The marriage process involves multiple stages, with the groom expected to provide cash payments, material gifts, and other financial contributions. In some cases, he must also pay for the bride’s family lineage, a practice known as “ame nda.” 

The cost is further increased by the need to provide gifts for extended family members and even community elders. This makes traditional marriage in Rivers State one of the most financially demanding in Nigeria.

Akwa Ibom State (Annang and Ibibio People)The Annang and Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State are known for their elaborate marriage traditions, which come with a long and expensive bride price list. The marriage list, which includes both monetary and material requirements, can be up to four pages long.

In addition to the bride price, the groom is expected to provide ceremonial gifts and make contributions to community elders. The overall cost of fulfilling these traditional requirements varies from family to family, but it is often high. This makes Akwa Ibom one of the states with the most expensive bride price in Nigeria.