“Nigerian Bride Price Calculator” is Horrifying & Sexist” – Cosmopolitan Magazine

Posted by: b3rrilyn in State of Mind May 28, 2014

I’m sure by now most of you have seen this bride price calculating app, I personally found it funny and a screenshot of mine is below. But Cosmopolitan Magazine thinks otherwise. But this oyinbo people can take things too seriously.

However, Cosmopolitan or should I say a writer, Frank Kobola at cosmopolitan calls it “Horrifying & sexiest.. Common where’s their sense of humour? Anyway read it …

“Do you sometimes wish you knew just how much you’re worth to potential husbands? Do you wish you could have an actual monetary value placed on you? Do you wish it was based on the standards and guidelines of forced marriage in Nigeria? Bride Price is the website you’ve been waiting for, and also you’re probably the only person waiting for this website.

Bride Price asks you a few basic questions and then lets you know how much you’d be worth if any potential suitors come knocking (via Meme Burn). Users can choose if they’d like to answer questions on their own behalf, or for a friend/enemy (“How much would I be worth to a Nigerian suitor? Asking for a friend”) before facing a handful of questions based primarily on height, weight, leg shape – one of the potential answers is “Sexy bow legs (Beyoncé)” – and whether or not your beauty is anywhere from “Fine & intimidating” or “Complete no try”. Don’t worry, the site will also ask you about your highest level of education and if you can cook. (If you want to game the system, say you’re uneducated, because you actually lose points for having a Ph.D.) After that, it will calculate your score.

For the record, I got NGN440,000 (or about $2,700) because at no point did the site think to ask me if I am a man with a full beard. It also told me I am a “Premium Babe! Your wife material is 100 yards of cord lace”, which I suppose is a compliment.

The site would be horrifying coming from anyone, but it’s registered to Anakle, a Nigerian design company, who claims it’s meant to be a joke commenting on Nigerian social life. Maybe I’d have more of a sense of humor about it if, you know, child brides being sold weren’t something that is tragically real in Nigeria.”