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The bride price is to Africa what apple pie is to the United States. Lobola (or, the bride price) is as old as Africa itself.

But there is a great deal of variance from clan to clan, country to country and tribe to tribe. Because lobola is not a monolithic idea, here we will discuss the subject’s core components only.

What Is the Meaning of Lobola?

In the Tsonga language, ku lobola means to buy in marriage. Ku lobota means to accept lobola. It is essentially a bride price. But the word “lobola” has passed over into many other African languages. Crucial words in African culture often do not change from country to country, like “nyama” (meat).

Lobola is the payment of money or cows by a prospective son-in-law to the family of his future bride. Most often the groom pays, though sometimes the payment comes from the father and even perhaps in the future if the man has no money. In the past this was often paid with hoes and oxen. Most pay cash for lobola today. So lobola refers to the money given for a bride that the parents and extended family agree upon.

This is not an individual affair but one of communities. It is a contract between two groups—two families. One family loses, the other gains. Lobola is paid by the latter to the former to balance things out.

Mr. Magubane in “Marriage in Tsonga Society” writes:

“Tsonga marriage is more than a relationship between individuals. It cements relationships between families, carrying privileges and obligations that transcend the death of either spouse.”

There are many purposes of lobola, chiefly these three. First, lobola seals the relationship between the two people who plan to get married and their families or clans.

Second, lobola shows that the man getting married is capable of taking care of a family. Third, lobola demonstrates gratitude to the bride’s family for raising a wonderful woman.

What Happens During Lobola?

The two families come together to negotiate a payment in the bride’s village, after which is a celebration of food and music.

I’ve been told many stories about the lobola feasts in the old days among the Tsongas. Often it is the bride’s family that is responsible to provide refreshments, food and much alcohol. When the groom goes to the bride’s house on that day, she is usually hidden. Then the counting of lobola begins. In the past, it was usually hoes, so the hoes were counted meticulously. Witnesses were important. After counting there was a feast.

In several African cultures, once lobola is paid, the woman becomes the legal wife of the husband.

The South African government officially recognizes the bride price. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 1998 defines lobola as “the property in cash or in kind, whether known as lobolo, bogadi, bohali, xuma, lumalo, thaka, ikhazi, magadi, emabheka or by any other name, 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.”

Is the Bride Price and the Dowry the Same Thing?

No. A dowry refers to a wedding present of property or gifts that the bride’s family gives to her. The dowry also served as security for the wife in case of divorce or the death of her husband.

When the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh married Solomon, her father gave her the captured city of Gezer to her as a dowry (Ge 29:27). Micah 1:14 refers to a dowry or “parting gifts”. In the context, the royal Canaanite city of Lachish is compared to a father who gives wedding gifts to his daughter as she departs her father’s home to take up dwelling with her husband. After Othniel had won the hand of Caleb’s daughter, it seems natural when Caleb asks his daughter: “What do you want” (Jdg 1:14)? She asked him for another gift beyond what he had already given her. He agreed.

Does Lobola Get Complicated?

Yes it does. Consider this South African High Court decision from October of 2022. Here is the background story.

Somewhere around 2007, Mr Matsena paid partial lobola for Ms Malope. Just before the big wedding celebration in December of 2007, Matsena and Malope were involved in a tragic car accident. Ms Malope was severely injured and the celebration was called off. For the next few years the couple was on and off living together. Starting from 2011 to Matsena’s death in 2022, they never cohabitated. She never attended his funeral.

Were they married? Matsena’s family said obviously not. The High Court ruled they were. Despite there never being a wedding ceremony, and only a portion of the lobola paid, and despite the couple having broken up twelve years prior, and despite there being no wedding certificate and the woman never even attending the funeral of Matsena, she was declared his legal wife.

Why? The court’s view was that the lobola paid was sufficient for marriage according to customary law. Since the couple never officially dissolved their customary marriage, she was considered his legal wife.

How Should Christians View Lobola?

Lobola is such a common practice throughout Africa, I’m sure the readers of the story above could offer their own tales of so-and-so’s unique lobola experience. In the end, it comes down to “what saith the Scriptures?”

The bride price does have biblical precedent. In Scripture we see the groom giving a financial bride price to the father (Gen. 31:15; Ex. 22:16; Ruth 4:10). We see the groom giving “service” as the bride price to the father (Gn. 29:15-30). We see the father setting the bride price for the groom (Gn. 29:15-30); Jos. 15:16-17; 1Sm. 17:25). We see the groom’s family giving gifts to the bride (Gn. 24:47-53).

But does Scripture view lobola as the bride price or the betrothal price? And should we call it a price or a gift? Does lobola equal marriage? A careful trek through Scripture will yield the answers.

Conclusion

Lobola is the price paid by the groom to the family of the bride-to-be.

Lobola has perhaps as many opponents as it does supporters. Some believe it is unacceptable because it markets women and takes money from the young couple. They say it is comparable to slavery, an unjust but legal way of exchanging human beings for cows.

Others discourage the practice as impractical but stop short of condemning it. Others believe it is a positive good, in part because it gives the woman dignity and worth.

Over the next several articles we will view the pros and cons of the bride price. Then we will make some final conclusions.