Bride worth a million

The National Main Stories

Hanuabada bride Melissa Umbu Pupu received K410,700, a four-bedroom house, 33 pigs, two cassowaries and one cow from her husband Isaac Umbu Pupu’s family as part of her bride price.
Isaac, of Pausa in the Wapenamanda district of Enga, made the payment at the bride price ceremony at his residence in Baruni, NCD, on Saturday.
He presented the cash and other items to Melissa’s parents and relatives which was witnessed by his tribe members.
Isaac and Melissa have a son and daughter.
– Picture courtesy of The SUN of Papua New Guinea Facebook page

32 comments

  • Shows that bride so desperate in having her as his wife. No love business. Baim na kamapim material marriage and own her for the rest of her life even if she faces any issues with him in the long.

  • OMG, will she be able to see her people again? or will Isaac continue to support his in-laws. Just asking. I know this payment is a sign of strong bond between the the two families and tribes.

  • It shows like pride and how wealth you are. If love matters, it would mind higher cost. Anyway, this will be memorable event by both parties and this ties make strong marital relationship. Congratulation!!!

  • Not really love married. Groom will use her on his own wish even if she is hurt in some ways because of the amount he had spent during bride price payment..brides freedom will be closely unrestricted.

  • FOLKS, Dont be too greedy and shelfish . Humans has turned God,s love into a money making busines. Wife,s family has become rich over night and husbands family has become poor. Crazy rules encourage people to become more than crazy. Treat your husband as a gift and vice versa. May you both stay together till your old age approaches. With the blessing of your both families and friends. Good luck.

  • That is why male flocks in PNG own their wives as properties and women are locked down as slaves to their husbands. The bride price mentality is forcing women into all kinds of social issues including domestic and sexual violence. Young girls and women should do away with bride price and go straight for marriage in exchange of rings only. Try out this and your violence against women would be solved forever and never to be an issue in PNG again.

  • Goodness! No value than a mere show of wealth and strength! Are women priced commodity? Is she now seen as a commodity available to the highest bidder? Should her sisters and future daughters alike start thinking of setting their price tag? Should her brothers and future sons alike pay similar hefty bride price? Would it be good that the resources be converted into an investment in her education/business etc? Many, many, many unanswered questions to ponder. People may have either side of argument to present but at the end of the day, does it all adds value to our society? Maybe and or maybe not, depending on how people view it. I think it is not a good practice as again it is just a show of wealth and strength. There is no true love. Love concur all and bond an everlasting matrimonial relationship in marriage. The convenient excuse of it was just like what our fathers/mothers/ancestors have done many years ago will not help us at all. Wake up! we are in the 21st century! May God have mercy on us!

  • I think the man is playing it for keeps. He truly wants the woman for himself and nobody else.

  • Woman has become a commodity period. This picture only tells me that her body was tagged with a price just like any other cargo. Actual fact she lost her dignity as a woman given by God right from the creation. Remember money she is carrying doesn’t display her real dignity, instead has made her become a cargo.

  • Some folks with a lot of money just showing off. Peoples attempts to glorify themselves.

  • This kind of marriages usually don’t last. Love cannot be bought, not for a K1000, and not even for a million Kina. Traditional customs such as bride price and compensation used to have their real value and significance before. But in modern day PNG people have used those customs the make fast money. A woman’s life doesn’t matter anymore. She becomes a property of the man,his family and tribe. The own her now. The government needs to regulate bride price system or better abolish it.

  • Carzy! Most Engans pay around K10,000 to K15 000 as bride price payment which is reasonable. This is acconomically stupid practice.

  • AS so many marches, NGO and Judges tell us, ‘Women are not a commodity!’
    Yeh man got it!

  • with Engans – you can never go to sleep…this people are always up to something…Next time they might be launching a rocket to the moon.

  • Everyone has his/her decision to spend their money so as Issac.
    Maybe Issac knows he would reap worth over millions in return of a million spent as the Bride-prize to his wife.
    Who Knows, maybe his in-laws must have made promises with him to give him a piece of Land worth over a million kina or give part of the sea side for development purposes.
    Weather, this could be the case or not. Its none of ones business to comment negatively on Issac Umbu’s decision and as a Countryman I salute Issac for making history in the country for making such greatest bride-price payment of all.
    To those you cant even beat him, should be ashamed of themselves for commenting negatively.

    • “What those who cant beat him should be ashamed of themselves?”There’s nothing to be ashamed about here. its not a race, why should someone beat him. maybe go run a race and beat him or what. There’s no value to a person. A person is priceless, worth more than money!

  • Prior to the couple getting married there was already existence of love when they already had a son. Why putting up such a huge money again? This money could have been properly invested in the childs future given the countries financial situation and the escalating school fees imposed by government on the user pay policy. something mistery to explain in that sense. anyway enjoy every moment of your life and make sure the child is always happy.

  • Purely pride, material things doesnt matter most, love bonds relationships.. Good for you Issac,,

  • over Christmas, was part oa nother that paid +K100gran also in Enga. Highlanders throw and make it run when in love? btw, he paid it in respect, gave her a house for her children and money for her share of whatever she could do with her relatives – hope some money advice is given during this big bride payments : cheers! and congrats to them!

  • Issac is already a millionaire and he got alot of properties in this nation. Those amounts he puts on as his bride price is just small to him to appreciates his dear darling for having him two beautiful, a son and a daughter. Those of you making negtive comments on him, ashame on you. Stop wasting your time on this and mind your own business.

  • The amount paid shows how wealthy Issac is. What is the use of making negative comments?

  • What a hell??? Uncles, bubus and other family related to Isaac are still suffering for their school fees, clothes, food yet K410,700.00 cash was spent on bride price!!!!!!
    Please!! mas lastpla Meri lo Baruni nau ya??? Or usait save! M mas pundaun lo sky o????

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