Weddings are known for drama, but nothing could have prepared me for the kind of demand my wife and her family made before our marriage. They insisted that the wedding would not hold until I provided a goat—not just any goat, but a US-insured goat!
At first, I thought it was a joke. How could someone possibly insure a goat in the United States and then ship it down for a wedding in Nigeria? But my wife’s explanation shocked me. She said her late father loved goats so much that one had to be present at the wedding to “represent him.” To make matters worse, the goat had to come with an insurance policy.
Why a Goat?
In their family, goats were not just animals; they symbolized wealth, security, and legacy. Her father believed that anyone who could care for a goat could also care for a family. So, the goat became a kind of test of my readiness to marry her.
But Why Insurance?
When I asked why the goat must be insured, her family replied:
A man who can insure a goat can insure his home, his marriage, and his future.”
That was the strangest reasoning I had ever heard. I didn’t even know goats could be insured until that moment. Apparently, in parts of the US, livestock insurance exists to protect farmers from losses due to theft, accidents, or disease. Imagine being asked to get an international livestock policy just to marry!
The Dilemma
I tried to argue. Why not a cow? Why not a car? Why not even life insurance for us both? But no, they stood their ground: it must be a US-insured goat.
At that point, I had to ask myself—was this really about love, tradition, or just another impossible test?
Moral of the Story
Sometimes family demands around marriage can be downright bizarre. From bride price negotiations to cultural traditions, people can stretch requirements beyond reason. But this story teaches one thing: marriage is not just about two people; it’s also about navigating family expectations, no matter how strange.
Would you provide a US-insured goat for your wedding if your partner’s family demands it?