In the hilly community of Becheve in Cross River, they use young girls as currency, exchanged for food and money. Many Nigerian cultures demand the payment of a gift as a way of emphasizing the worth of the bride and more so, the institution of marriage, but within the community of Becheve.
Women don’t seem to be just sent to their husbands after the payment of payment, they’re currency themselves. The Becheve tribe is created of 17 sister tribes who board the thick mountainous terrain of the Obanliku regime in Cross River State, a part that’s also home to the previous tourist attraction, Obudu ranch.
Together, these tribes practice an ancient tradition where young girls are given out as “money wives”, sometimes before they’re born, in exchange for a few payments or to settle a previous debt, or further still, to offset some gifts or handout. Here, parents appreciate their daughters (money women) because they’re propelled by the assumption they’re going to be wont to settle off debts.
With several girls as young as six, they accustom some to play bets, settle hospital bills while they give others off for as little as N3500. At 10, she is ripe for marriage. She may herald the person (her customer) to her home and may have s*x with him as long because it isn’t done on the matrimonial bed.
For some, they’re borrowed to a lender until he gets his money. During that period, he can do to her as he pleases including getting her to relinquish birth to his children. Once married, she is prevented from visiting the school and is given leftovers meals and is treated as property. it’s a status determiner because only the rich can afford to possess as many as they require.
Despite the existence of the Nigerian and cross river law against the practice, it’s still adhered to. They sell Becheve girls into ‘Money Marriage’ for cash as low as N10, 000. Food items like tubers of yams; livestock like goats and pigs all reckoning on the bargaining power of the ‘groom.’
