Bride Price Remains a Barrier for Young Couples: Citizens and Experts Call for Action

In Rwanda, the tradition of bride price continues to be a major obstacle for young people seeking to start families, with many men reporting that the demands of marriage exceed their financial capacity. Relationship experts and local citizens emphasize that this issue requires urgent attention through collaboration between government agencies, religious institutions, and youth development organizations.

In interviews with Top Africa News, residents from various districts explained that getting married has become increasingly difficult due to high costs, particularly regarding bride price. They note that some families on the bride’s side are now demanding excessive bride prices, which some young men view as setting a monetary value on a woman rather than a cultural token of appreciation.

Habimana Eric, a 29-year-old man from Muhanga District, said he wanted to marry but could not afford the bride price demands.

He said: “The love was there, and the plan to get married was ready, but when it came to the bride price and other requirements, it was beyond my means. I had no choice but to postpone my plans to marry.”

Similarly, Niyonsenga Patrick, from Huye District in the Southern Province, said the high demands for bride price are discouraging many young men in his area from taking steps toward marriage.

He explained: “In our family and nearby communities, the bride price demanded is very high. Sometimes it is based on the bride’s education level or occupation, which makes it impossible for an average young man to meet these expectations. This causes many men to hesitate or abandon marriage altogether.”

According to residents, these financial pressures have forced many young men to delay marriage, while others have chosen to forgo it entirely, impacting both youth well-being and the development of new households.

Some citizens suggest that solutions could include reducing bride prices or establishing official guidelines to regulate them, returning the practice to its original purpose as a symbolic token of respect rather than a financial transaction.

This issue also reached the Rwandan Parliament in 2022, where debates were held on the subject. Deputy Mukamana Alice suggested introducing a maximum limit for bride price, while Deputy Ntezimana Jean Pierre raised concerns that regulating it by law might interfere with cultural practices and the freedom of families to decide.

Relationship expert Rosette Nkundimfura stated that bride price should be treated as a national issue, requiring involvement from multiple sectors to develop sustainable solutions.

She said: “When bride prices exceed reasonable limits, a husband may feel he ‘bought’ his wife, leading to conflicts, domestic violence, and poverty within the household. It is essential to educate families that a woman is not a commodity.”

In Rwandan culture, as well as under the country’s civil laws, bride price is traditionally a gift to the bride’s parents to honor the upbringing they provided. In the past, it was commonly paid with cows as a sign of respect and mutual recognition between families.

Today, however, bride price is often paid in cash, and in some cases, the amount demanded is influenced by the bride’s education or occupation. This practice has sparked ongoing debate among citizens.

Many residents told        Top Afica News that they now feel brides are being treated as commodities, which contradicts Rwandan cultural values and the original purpose of bride price.