Chapter 5: Bride Price Pressure

Weekend reach. Morayo carry me go meet her parents. I buy palm wine (that correct drink), Benson & Hedges cigarette (correct big man smoke), and plenty health things wey she pick. Unlike the way I and Amaka just talk marriage over food that year, this one come official well.

My body dey shake, hand dey sweat. As we enter their compound, her papa dey read newspaper for veranda. Her mama smile, stand up hug me. Dem serve me jollof rice, spicy goat meat wey pepper dey show, fried plantain, and cold malt. Aroma just dey scatter my head. "Since na your second marriage, I no mind, but my parents go always worry. As dem see say you dey treat me well, dem go rest."

Morayo hold my arm, dey try make me relax. She think say na because of all the things she make me buy I dey vex. But na nervous I dey. Morayo too sweet, she no know say love dey always carry small guilt. I dey fear say wetin I buy no reach, or e no too correct.

Na so dem begin ask question, "Wetin be your tribe? Where your people dey for village? You get children before?" I answer all, dey smile. When bride price matter come up, her parents talk say their side na over two million naira dem dey collect. Compared to Amaka own that year, e choke. Morayo just smile: "Bride price na wetin you give me, and anything wey be my own na your own."

That one sweet me. Amaka own that year na her own money sef. When we first do engagement, house for village need repair. I rush Amaka for money, she no talk no, but she make me write IOU, say bride price no suppose just collect back like that. Later, we buy new house for city, old house just dey there. If I think am now, maybe we no ever match—just waste our best years.