Lobola

Lobola is the term for the bride-price in South Africa. I myself am one of few Europeans with inside experience of lobola. Some say that the bride-price is fundamentally unbiblical -- yet it held an important place in all of the marriages of God's people (see the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia). Lobola is said to pay homage to the spirits of the ancestors, or to be intertwined with witchcraft -- in reality it is typically surrounded with Christian hymns and prayers. Richard Singano states: "We do everything in light of the Word of God." It is said to be a greedy business -- in reality the bride-price is strictly controlled by tradition, an act of love and joy which is generously repaid in various ways. Alan Tiley, an expert on African culture, writes that "the ramifications of lobola system has tremendous advantages for both parties". It is said to be trading flesh -- in reality it is a means of thoroughly negotiating the issues of life, and bonding with the family. OBSERVATION: Joy! Magazine published an anonymous -- and what I consider to be careless -- piece on Is Lobola Christian? This was answered briefly by Richard Singano: "Lobola has its origins in the Word of God". What disturbs me is the sometimes tacky disregard (and comments) that people have for precious traditions in other cultures.