• Amalo Soga Mago

Abstract Bride price is an amount of money or property, which is paid by groom or his parents to a bride’s parents at marriage. It has symbolical meaning and practiced by Sidama people in Ethiopia. Before thirty years ago its amount was very small, however, since 2000 the amount of bride price dramatically increased and was affecting spouses, families and women empowering capacity. It requires investigation root causes of bride price inflation and its effects on women life in Sidama. Thus this study aimed to examine over all causes of bride price inflation and its effects on women life. Qualitative research approach was used to collect and analyze data. It was understood that bride price is means to value for bride and approval for marriage. Its amount was increased dramatically because of misinterpretation of cultural meaning of bride price by this generation. Inflated bride price had more negative effects on women empowerment capacity than positive contribution. Local elders attempted to minimize exaggerated bride-price payment but they were unsuccessful, because it seems elders were not in power to enforce the traditional law as they were in previous generation. It was recommended that females, particularly girls are at right position to minimize exaggerated bride price in the society.

Key terms: bride-price, implication, inflation, Sidama, women empowerment

"Implication of Inflated Bride-price on Women Empowering Capacity in Sidama People, Ethiopia", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 11, page no.449-456, November-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907R71.pdf

"Implication of Inflated Bride-price on Women Empowering Capacity in Sidama People, Ethiopia", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 11, page no. pp449-456, November-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907R71.pdf