noun

• 1(among southern African peoples) a bride price, especially one paid with cattle.

  ‘As per tradition, his uncles went to my hometown to pay lobola to my parents.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘He paid lobola to my family in 2007.’
  • ‘This lobola traditionally involves cattle or other livestock, but in modern times money settlements have been accepted.’
  • ‘He is hard at work building up a sizeable lobola so he can win Lisa's heart on 14 February.’
  • ‘Five cows and 30 sheep were slaughtered during the event, which together with the bride's R60000 lobola cost the groom a total of R200000.’
  • ‘Other items worn by engaged women could include pieces that communicated her fiancé's progress with lobola.’
  • ‘Nyore has been a good man to me and he is the one who was the go between when I paid lobola.’
  • ‘The husband paid lobola before they entered into the civil marriage.’
  • ‘The lobola process has bitter-sweet results for Tbose, who still has a huge hurdle before him.’
  • ‘He had promised to pay lobola for me this year and then a wedding next year.’

  1. 1.1The practice of paying a bride price.
     ‘Nomakhuze Solwandle of the Masonwabisane Women's Support Group said her organisation supported the custom of lobola and would welcome any suggestion to curb corruption within the practice.’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Is the old Xhosa tradition of lobola going to be forgotten, and is the head of the kraal going to be two people in future?’
     • ‘That custom lacks the quaintness of lobola and in my world, it would be called kidnapping.’
     • ‘He said discussions about lobola had not yet been finalised.’
     • ‘I don't have money or anything, because with Africans, what we do, we pay lobola, we call it lobola.’