[MARRIAGE LIST] Find Out What It Cost to Marry A Boki Girl

Are you planning to marry a Boki Woman  and maybe wondering how much the bride price and introduction engagement list will cost? Forget the rumours you've been hearing that you can't afford to marry a Boki Woman, because as far as I'm concern; unlike the Efik and Ogoja people, Boki has a very friendly and affordable marriage list for intending in-laws.

This is because the Boki people don't believe in giving out their daughters as as bought goods.

But, How expensive can it really be to marry a woman from Boki Local government area of Cross River State, compared to other parts of Nigeria? BOKI BLOG is here to give you key answers.

The culture of bride price is as old as the Nigerian people. 

But;

What is bride price? 

Bride price is simply materials or cash offered to a prospective bride’s family by the prospective groom for marriage considerations.  This often includes money, goods and in some tribes even property that will provided by the groom or members of his family to the bride’s family.

Sometimes, the groom can negotiate a list provided by the Bride’s family depending on his financial capability. 

Bride price is an ancient practice that many argue should be abolished since it makes it look like the woman is being bought. Others argue that it is a beautiful practice and which is a core identity of the Nigerian people.

The Truth remains that most men are so scared when it comes to this point of marriage.

Ask a young man why he is still single at the age he was supposed to have a wife. His response will give you an insight into why most youths from Nigeria marry late. You'll hear something like, “I’ve been in a relationship with my girl friend, for the past ten years, but I’ve not started talking about marriage because getting married this days is not child’s play. Especially if you don’t have a good job or a sure source of income, or do you want me to go and Rob a Bank”. You can imagine that!

In Boki, Cross River State, there is no fixed amount for bride price, sometimes families determine what their son in-law pays. Some parts of Boki set the bride price at twenty five naira (₦25) only, the funny thing is that if you provide all the basic items that is stated in the list and neglect to pay the ₦25, you are not yet married.

In this post, you'll know the basic items that will be requested as dowry for your wife to be. Just as I stated above, many young men always waste time to work and save up so much money to be able to Budget for the marriage list (and knocking of door) without worrying to know what's contained in the list first.

Let's Guide you

Below are the various steps and requirements the intending groom must pass through before marrying a Boki Woman

1. Introduction (Knocking of Door)

an “Introduction” which is also known as “Knocking of Door” is held so both families can meet officially. The idea behind this is to introduce key members of both families so they know their son or daughter's new relatives. Here, the intending groom gets to hear from the wife-to-be family on what he should do to marry their daughter. It's usually a small affair, but these days, it's like a mini traditional wedding ceremony.

Boki does not have a uniform traditional marriage system. Most times its depending on the family which you want to marry from. Items like Kolanuts, drinks are normally requested and this is often between ₦10,000 to ₦20,000

2. Traditional Marriage

The “Knocking of door” is always followed by the traditional Marriage rit, involving mainly drinks for the family members. This differs from one part of Boki to the other. Often times, it's not above ₦20,000

3. Bride Price

Bride price is the most important and significant aspect of marriage in Boki Land. This also differ from one part of Boki to the other. In the Western part of Boki, there's a fixed bride price of ₦25. A symbolic amount which is Non-negotiable, this is also called 'esang' in some parts of Boki. 

In Eastern Boki, the bride price is increased as it may fall between ₦15,000 - ₦40,000 depending on the family and educational qualification of the girl. However, the bride price is always negotiable in this kind of situation.

4. Labour Fee

The labour fee called 'akpuga bankponghe' is very important when marrying a Boki Woman. This is currently interpreted as ‘efforts put in by both parents to train the girl to maturity’ but Labour fee is an ancient traditional culture where the intending groom was supposed to clear his in-laws farms for 3 years before receiving their daughter for marriage. So in the modern approach today, Boki in-laws have to receive this in cash and items instead

The Labour fee in the Western part of Boki falls between ₦50,000 - ₦150,000 (negotiable) depending on the girls educational qualification and status. And in the Eastern part, it's between ₦50,000 - ₦100,000, also negotiable.

The labour fee may also include some traditional items like; 2 Goats, sometimes male and female. The goats are symbolical as it represents official traditional engagement between you and  their daughter.

Sometimes if you've given these goats and maybe not cleared the labour fee yet, you can still claim ownership of your child from the woman and if she eventually marries another man, you'll get back all your expenses from the man who marries her Later.

That's a wrap...

Now you see it's not really a big deal to marry a Boki girl and i must advice that you delay no further. Begin the steps towards marrying your future Wife today.

Incase you have questions about the article, feel free to share on the comments section below:

SEE ALSO: 3 Things You Must Know Before Marrying a Boki Girl