A young Nigerian bride-to-be has taken to social media to express deep pain and frustration after nearly thirty of her close friends failed to purchase the aso ebi material for her upcoming wedding, leaving her feeling betrayed and out of pocket.
The Aso Ebi WhatsApp Group Betrayal
The woman, who goes by the TikTok handle @bahdgurl_favvy23, revealed in a now-viral video that her wedding is just a few weeks away. In preparation, she created a dedicated WhatsApp group in October for her "aso ebi girls," and about 29 friends joined. However, with the event fast approaching, not a single one of them has bought the designated cloth, which she priced at 40,000 Naira each.
She contrasted their inaction with her own past support, mentioning that she recently participated as an aso ebi girl for one of these same friends. "I even did aso ebi for one last month," she lamented. "Almost 29 of them, none of them bought, all my money is wasted."
Heartbreak and Public Outcry
In an emotional caption accompanying the TikTok post, the lady elaborated on her sense of betrayal. "That feeling when you felt close to them, trusted them, loved them, and they just betrayed you in the worst way you could imagine," she wrote. "Omo I’m in so much pain. I didn’t expect this from my friends at all just two weeks left."
The video sparked a significant debate online, with netizens divided in their reactions. Some sympathized with her plight, while others questioned the price and the expectation placed on friends.
Mixed Reactions from Social Media Users
The online community had strong and varied opinions on the situation:
- Josephine Jammeh offered a different perspective: "They are not wicked n they don't owe you anything. everyone is going through a struggle."
- User All_by_Grace questioned the criticism of the price: "Y’all must be joking… 40k is too much for asoebi?!"
- NELLYSHAIR did a cost breakdown, suggesting the total outfit cost should be around 27,500 Naira, concluding, "My love u fr just even if nah 30k … Dan no gift."
- Building Materials Market gave pragmatic advice: "Before setting your price you need to understand their financial capacity, relationship with them and how much you have also sacrificed for them."
A user named TheEmpress shared a lengthy opinion criticizing the commercialisation of aso ebi for weddings. "Asoebi clothes should not be sold, it's your wedding we are talking about and not a money making ceremony... But because we want to trend and showcase wealth and belongingness we do things extravagantly to please the society and displease ourselves," she wrote, advising to "cut your coat according to your size."
The incident highlights the complex social and financial pressures surrounding Nigerian wedding traditions, where aso ebi serves as both a symbol of solidarity and a significant financial commitment for attendees. The bride's public lament has turned a personal disappointment into a broader conversation about friendship, obligation, and the rising costs of celebrating big life events.
