{"id":243331,"date":"2022-04-20T14:08:38","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T13:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/?p=243331"},"modified":"2022-04-20T14:09:14","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T13:09:14","slug":"what-is-lobola-the-meaning-process-and-how-to-write-lobola-negotiations-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/what-is-lobola-the-meaning-process-and-how-to-write-lobola-negotiations-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Lobola? The Meaning, Process and How to Write Lobola Negotiations Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lobola is a fundamental custom practised under customary law marriage in many African countries, mostly Southern African countries. It is the payment of the bride price by the groom’s family to the bride’s family which traditionally is paid with a certain number of cows. Nowadays, families of the bride accept lobola payment in the form of cash or other gifts.<\/p>\n

With lobola being made very expensive by the family of the bride in some cases; making it difficult for the prospective groom to pay, there has been a call for lobola to be abolished. However, in the midst of the raging online debate regarding the age-old tradition, many still believe that lobola has been misunderstood in the modern era and that the custom has come to stay.<\/p>\n

The Meaning of Lobola<\/b><\/h2>\n

Lobola involves the family of the groom paying the family of the bride in cash or cows, for a marriage process to be initiated between their son and daughter. That’s why it’s often referred to as bride price or bridewealth. On some occasions, the bride’s family can request a cash equivalent of the number of cows. Oftentimes, lobola is paid in monthly installments, though some cultures demand that it must be paid in full.<\/p>\n

This is to show that the groom is capable of taking care of the financial needs of his family. Before the day of the lobola celebration, the groom’s family will first write a letter to the bride’s family, expressing their intention to marry their daughter. This is followed by negotiations, payment of the bride price, and then the celebration, which in some cultures, is celebrated for two to three days. The giving of lobola is agreed upon by the families of the bride and groom.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, lobola is a widespread custom commonly practised by the Zulu, Xhosa<\/a>, Swazi, Northern and Southern Ndebele<\/a>, and Silozi tribes. Lobola is considered one of the essential requirements of customary law marriage. Although it is not clearly stated as one of the basic three requirements of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998, it is believed to be under the requirement that a customary marriage must be entered into or negotiated in accordance with customary law or practices.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Lobola Documentary Film (@lobola_brideprice_documentary)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n