Only Virgins Deserve Bride Price – Reno Omokri Insists in Controversial Post

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has stirred controversy after stating that only virgins should be eligible for bride price, arguing that demanding such payment for non-virgins is tantamount to extortion. Omokri made the remarks in a lengthy post on his official X account on Sunday, where he delved into cultural and religious interpretations of marriage customs.

He clarified the distinction between dowry and bride price, insisting that the two terms are often wrongly used interchangeably in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to him, a dowry refers to money or property given by a bride’s family to her and her husband, a practice common in parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In contrast, he described the bride price as a cultural and scriptural practice specific to virgins, rooted in African and Jewish traditions.

Quoting Exodus 22:17, Omokri argued that biblical bride price is applicable only when a woman is a virgin. He cited the Lukumi Yoruba custom, which requires confirmation of virginity after consummation, with the bride price returned if virginity is not confirmed. He condemned what he described as the excessive monetisation of marriage rites, especially in cases involving non-virgins, calling it “extortion.”

Omokri further claimed that the Bible never uses the term “bride” to describe a non-virgin, citing Isaiah 62:5, Jeremiah 2:32, and Song of Solomon 4:12 as examples. He argued that paying bride price for non-virgins is unscriptural and pointed to biblical figures to support his claim, noting that while David paid a bride price for Michal, he did not do so for Abigail.

He warned that unless African societies return to what he called “time-honoured traditions,” they would continue to suffer moral and social decline. Linking the erosion of cultural values to rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases and broken homes, he urged a return to traditional norms.

Omokri also criticised the adoption of white wedding ceremonies in Africa, calling them un-African and misrepresented. According to him, the custom originates from Europe, where the bride’s father traditionally pays for the wedding. He concluded his post with a jibe at what he called “Industrial Money Obtainers,” suggesting that some families exploit wedding customs for financial gain.