What is the real meaning of Lobola?

bride-price
: bride-price especially among the Bantu-speaking peoples of southern Africa.

Is Lobola a marriage?

Firstly, the Act defines lobolo as “property in cash or in-kind which a prospective husband or the head of his family undertakes to give to the head of the prospective wife’s family in consideration of a customary marriage.” There is no doubt that lobolo is one of the essential requirements in terms of section 3(1)(b) …

What is a Lobola gift?

Lobola or Lobolo in Zulu, Swazi, Xhosa, Silozi and northern and southern Ndebele (Mahadi in Sesotho, Roora in Shona, Magadi in Setswana, Lovola in Xitsonga), and Mamalo in Tshivenda language, sometimes referred to as “bride wealth” is property in livestock or kind, which a prospective husband or head of his family …

What the Bible says about Lobola?

Exodus 22:16-17 says that a man must pay dowry: “If he has sex with a woman whether he marries her or not. … a woman can claim compensation if a man promises to marry and later rescinds his decision”. and you see that more often men say “She is my wife, I paid lobola and I should do as I please with her.”

What happens during lobola?

There is an organised process that lobola ceremony follows, and that begins with scheduling a meeting by the groom family with the bride’s family. Also, the bride would be presented to the family of the groom when they are having the ‘hand-over’ ceremony, and lastly, they would then arrange for the marriage.

How much does a lobola cost?

According to the Nguni Cattle Breeders Society, a cow costs, on average, R9 000. So assuming that the bride’s and groom’s families agree on 10 cows, the groom’s family will have to pay lobola of R90 000.

How much is a lobola cow?

What determines lobola price?

The minimum lobola to be paid is 10 cows. The bride’s family then determines what the value of 1 cow would be, and multiplies it by 10. For instance, if the standard rate for a cow is R7000, and the family determined that the bride is worth 12 cows, the lobola would be R84 000.

How do lobola negotiations work?

What happens after lobola negotiations? The moment the final lobola price is agreed upon, the uncles of the groom would meet with the family of the bride and arrange for the payment. After that is done, the groom becomes a part of the bride’s family, and a party would be thrown.

What comes first between lobola and engagement?

For those who prefer that the lobola negotiations come first, it could be because it is believed that, that is how one asks for a person’s hand in marriage before proposing. So, in essence, the cows come home before anyone gets down on one knee.

Who gets lobola?

For centuries, the Nguni tribes of Southern Africa have practiced lobola — paying a bride price to ensure a union between two tribes, similar to the dowry’s of Western Civilization. With one exception — lobola is paid in cows, and is paid to the bride’s family.

What does lobola money do?

What is lobola? Lobola is a word used in Silozi, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, and northern and southern Ndebele to either mean bride price or bridewealth. It has to do with the property or cash that a prospective husband gives the head of a potential wife’s family when considering a customary marriage.

What is the meaning of lobola in Africa?

Lobola (also called Lobolo or Ilobolo) is a term used to define an African traditional custom ( similar to the Asian dowry) whereby the groom-to-be’s family hand gifts or money to the bride-to-be’s family, before marriage. It is used as a starting point to the process of marriage. It can be compared to “asking for the girl’s hand in marriage.”

What’s the meaning of the lobola at a wedding?

Lobola is a token of appreciation to the bride’s parents for raising a woman for the groom and should not be seen as a chance to make a quick buck.

Are there any negative effects of lobola marriage?

Unfortunately, this form of bride price has exposed many women to abuse since they are viewed as property of the groom. Another unintended negative effect of lobola is that it creates a barrier for young men who want to marry under the customary law but have no finances to offer lobola.

How does lobola work in the Shona culture?

Lobola in the Shona and Ndebele Culture. A man marrying a woman from the Shona or Ndebele culture has to observe Lobola (called roora in Shona). A man is seen to love his partner when he strives to save and pay for lobolo. In the Shona and Ndebele cultures in Zimbabwe, Lobola takes place in a number of stages.