Interesting Bride Price.

There is an argument against bride price: it is simply the selling of women to men so is inhumane and treats women as property.

Why would I put a price on my daughter if I wanted her to be treated as a priceless gem? I am not against kwanjula or introduction as it is normally referred to, the ceremony where the bride is given away to the groom- I am just against the showy nature of families when participating in this ceremony.

Unlike it's name- "introduction", this ceremony has more or less become a point of sale. The woman is given away after certain terms and conditions are accepted and an amount of commodities has been exchanged.

These days, when the "bako" (in-laws) promise "appreciation" which in true sense is part of the bride price to the bride's family, they unleash an entire supermarket sometimes including hardware shops and carpentry work shops.

A certain man must have been left cursing when he went to be introduced by his Mutooro chick. They had agreed on four Fresian cows which meant 2 million shillings, but when they got there a certain "elder" decided to demand for 10 cows instead and insisted on it. After long bargaining, the elder cut down his demands to 7 cows. Surely, if I were the man, I would have thanked the lady for her good gesture of introducing me to parents but then would humbly submit my resignation letter thereafter.

Some elders think these men who are to take away their daughters should be milked dry which in many cases causes social dysfunctions like violence in homes and the like. I think introduction is noble but when it is over done- becomes more of a social class event, it loses meaning.

I would like a simple one, not too many people- just a humble thing. A friend of mine would prefer a "kukyala" only- where it is a private thing between the two families. I think that would be nice too.

But did you hear of this weird bride price some long time ago. This King was jealous of one of his subjects because he was killing more enemies in battle and apparently this caused one of his daughters to admire this guy so much. So he made a plan mbu he wanted to give her away to this man but the bride price was a must.

Can you imagine the bride price? 100 foreskins.

I almost died. You can get the story here- 1 Sam 18:25.

But thank God for Christ, who gave the ultimate price for his bride- His life. He spared nothing but gave all.

In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son---will he not also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31,32 (You'd do good to read the whole chapter).

Much love and great week.




God bless