At the family meeting holding in Susan’s parents’
house, the elders had already given up on the issue of the day. But if every
other person was tired, Susan’s father was not. He insisted on getting
everything on the request-list met.
house, the elders had already given up on the issue of the day. But if every
other person was tired, Susan’s father was not. He insisted on getting
everything on the request-list met.
As long as he was concerned, if Susan has stayed unmarried
all these years, then she must not be given out ‘cheaply’ in marriage. He
remains the father of the bride and must enjoy full benefits for his
God-given-position.
all these years, then she must not be given out ‘cheaply’ in marriage. He
remains the father of the bride and must enjoy full benefits for his
God-given-position.
Susan is 39 years old and single. Besides her bag of
degrees and varied trainings, she has good looks and puts up a likable mien
among her friends. She hadn’t complained about being single; she may have been
choosy, waiting for a man of her choice, but that was entirely her business.
degrees and varied trainings, she has good looks and puts up a likable mien
among her friends. She hadn’t complained about being single; she may have been
choosy, waiting for a man of her choice, but that was entirely her business.
For Susan’s father, the intending groom must buy him a
Power- bike; one that he had always dreamed of, build a family-size house for him
to upgrade his status from a tenant to a house-owner. He said he hadn’t asked
for too much, because he already had the piece of land!
Power- bike; one that he had always dreamed of, build a family-size house for him
to upgrade his status from a tenant to a house-owner. He said he hadn’t asked
for too much, because he already had the piece of land!
While the family meeting continued, Susan’s father
said that having been prevailed upon by members of his family, he didn’t mind
waving ‘the rest things’ on the list, but the first two items must be provided
or else he was not going to give Susan out for marriage.
said that having been prevailed upon by members of his family, he didn’t mind
waving ‘the rest things’ on the list, but the first two items must be provided
or else he was not going to give Susan out for marriage.
Again, he thought that since his family wanted him to
let go of the building request, then they should also yank off some of their
own items meant for members of the family.
He concluded that the family was
somewhat more ‘greedy’ than himself,
let go of the building request, then they should also yank off some of their
own items meant for members of the family.
He concluded that the family was
somewhat more ‘greedy’ than himself,
because he was
the first and ‘original owner’ of the
‘commodity! Oops, ‘daughter’.
the first and ‘original owner’ of the
‘commodity! Oops, ‘daughter’.
Susan’s case is just one out of so many. It is
disturbing that some parents would want to exchange their daughters like a
common commodity for material wealth.
disturbing that some parents would want to exchange their daughters like a
common commodity for material wealth.
There is no doubt that an intending groom should
honour the parents and family of his proposed bride, but it becomes
embarrassingly sad when outrageous price-tags are placed on the lady.
honour the parents and family of his proposed bride, but it becomes
embarrassingly sad when outrageous price-tags are placed on the lady.
How would you rather handle this issue of
‘family-demand- list’, as a bride or groom to- be?
‘family-demand- list’, as a bride or groom to- be?
Luckily I am Yoruba and since our culture does not allow selling of the daughter, I think I am safe from this sort of rubbish.
Some father's sha, is it thru the daughter that he will get out of poverty.
Abi o! It is sad that some fathers believe that their daughters are commodities for sale, from which they must make money. People need to begin to speak out against such acts.