Lobola is an age-old African custom that is as alive today as it was 100 years ago however; certain aspects of it have changed.

Lobolo or Lobola in, Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele (Mahadi in Sesotho, Roora in Shona, and Magadi in Northern Sotho), sometimes translate as bride price, is a customary Southern African ritual whereby the man pays the family of his fiancée for her hand in marriage. (Compare with the European dowry custom where the woman brings assets.) The tradition is designed for bringing the two families together, nurturing shared admiration, and signifying that the man is proficient of supporting his wife money-wise. In addition, it is also regarded as one of the pillars that should grip the two families—and particularly the couple—sturdy.

Guest on the line: Dr Mpumelelo Ncube -HoD & Senior Lecturer Dept of Social Work University of the Free State