'Love Has Always Been Transactional' – Singer Omawumi

Nigerian singer Omawumi has said that romantic relationships have always carried a transactional nature, arguing that this is not a modern development.

The Bottom Belle crooner made the statement during a recent interview with Pulse, where she addressed ongoing discussions about the cost and expectations involved in modern dating.

According to her, while love has always involved some form of exchange, what has changed over time is the level of demand placed on partners, largely due to modernisation and rising living costs.

She explained that in earlier years, it was easier to impress a romantic partner with simple gestures, but today, expectations have become more expensive.

“Love has always been transactional. Women have always been demanding since the beginning of time. But during my youth, our transaction was different because you can impress your crush with just ice cream and popcorn. But now, it is iPhone,” she said.

Omawumi also noted that discussions around transactional relationships are often one-sided, as people tend to ignore the role of reciprocity in relationships.

She added that some of the complaints from men about dating expectations are linked to the type of partners they choose.