Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and his wife Chioma Rowland may have trended worldwide for their lavish “white wedding” but many Nigerians are calling it what it truly was: a luxury parade, not a white wedding in the traditional or religious sense.
By definition in Christian tradition, a white wedding is meant for couples who have not engaged in sexual relations before marriage, with the white gown symbolizing chastity. Davido and Chioma, however, have been together for years, lived as a couple, and are already parents to children. That reality, critics say, strips the event of the symbolic purity a white wedding is supposed to represent.
What took place instead was a multi-million-naira spectacle of affluence, high-end décor, diamond-studded jewelry, designer fashion, exotic drinks, and an A-list guest list packed with political heavyweights and entertainment royalty. For many observers, it was a calculated display of power, fame, and status rather than a sacred religious ritual.
“This wasn’t about fulfilling church tradition. It was about reminding everyone who Davido is; rich, famous, and untouchable,” one social media user posted. Others went further, calling it “a billionaire show-off in the name of marriage.”
Defenders argue that modern society has redefined the meaning of white weddings, reducing them to nothing more than a glamorous photo opportunity. But to cultural purists, the Davido–Chioma ceremony only highlights how celebrity culture has hijacked and commercialized sacred traditions.
For now, one thing is clear: while the internet celebrates the opulence, the religious significance of a white wedding was left at the church door replaced by blinding wealth, flashing cameras, and social media bragging rights.
