A Nigerian lady has sparked debate after questioning a traditional practice a situation where a 21-year-old man was expected to speak on behalf of his family during his sister’s marriage process.
According to her, a man shared the experience on Instagram after accompanying his friend to the family of the woman he wanted to marry. They met the woman’s widowed mother but were reportedly told to wait for her son, who was expected to act as the “man of the house.”
In her words, she said:
“This woman paid the school fees of her kids and catered for them because their dad is late, and all of a sudden, she doesn’t have a mouth or a say in the marriage of her daughter. She has to wait for her son, who is 21 years old, to come and interface on behalf of the family. How does that make sense?”
The lady argued that such a practice diminishes the role of women, questioning why a mother who raised and catered for her children should be unable to speak to visitors who came to discuss her daughter’s marriage.
She further criticised traditions that place men above women in family matters, insisting that the widow should have a voice in decisions concerning her daughter.
“There is no reason on earth why a parent, a mom, should not be able to speak to her visitors that came to marry her daughter. What kind of tradition are we practising? There is no reason why things like this should ever have to happen in the first place,” she added.
Her comments have since generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians agreeing with her while others defended the cultural practice.
Watch the video below…
Lady questions a tradition that made a 21-year-old boy speak as the “man of the house” during a marriage introduction, despite their widowed mother being present after raising the family alone. She says traditions that diminish women’s relevance have no place in today’s society… pic.twitter.com/2b3IF8Gieo
— Yobarnub 🦍 (@realyobarnub) August 7, 2026
