When I posted that “I love you is an economic statement disguised as an emotional expression”, it has nothing to do with the period in history. Whether it is ancient or modern times, the concept of love is founded on exchange.
Ancient Patriarchy has for the sake of order placed the onus of proof on the man. In other words, the woman has been conditioned to be a recipient of this love and what is expected of her is not love for the Man, but respect and care as long as the man continues to provide this love (which in the contemplation of pre-modern humanity must be tangible).
Amongst the Igbo of Nigeria, it is culturally connoted that love for a woman is reserved for men with the wherewithal to acquire it. This is why it was a show of wealth for a man to have more than one woman. In modern society, much of this still subsists. The most sophisticated of women still desires and craves for an “alpha male”. They want to respect you not for the quality of “bed time” activities alone, but also for the quality of whatever store of value you possess — this could be influence, power or money!
There are Igbo proverbs that support this thesis that love is an economic commodity standing in far distant opposite from whatever emotional definition we may want to give it!
— Mazi Ejimofor Opara
