Lobola, A Bride’s True Price?

Sihle Hlophe is a SAFTA-winning filmmaker and a multi-degree earner. Over the last 12 years, her work has been recognised with a number of accolades including an Africa Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary film. Hlophe is an alumni of the prestigious IDFAcademy (the Netherlands), the North-South-South Student Exchange Program (Finland) and the Hot Docs Blue Ice Group Story Lab (Canada). Hlophe’s latest documentary film, “Lindela Under Lockdown” (2020), was the winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Cameroon International Film Festival 2021 and it was also nominated for the Best Documentary Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards 2021. Hlophe recently directed a feature-length Showmax Original film titled “Pearls Of Wisdom”. Hlophe is also the director of “African Dreams”, a 13 part mocku-series that premieres on SABC 1 in October 2021. Hlophe is the co-producer of ‘Sadla’ (2020), the first narrative film by a black South African filmmaker to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (USA). Hlophe has written and directed two award-winning narrative short films that have been screened at over 40 film festivals around the world. She is the producer and director of a feature length documentary, “Lobola, A Bride’s True Price” (Most Outstanding Documentary Project, Durban Film Mart, 2017); due for release in 2021. Over the years, she has worked as a scriptwriter and storyliner on award winning TV shows such as “Lockdown”, “Scandal”, “Mutual Friends” and “Broken Vows”.

Lobola is a cultural practice that unifies the families of two individuals who want to get married and their respective ancestors. Lobola is practised in most African countries however it is sometimes incorrectly referred to as ‘dowry’. The practice involves several steps. The most contested one is when the groom pays the ‘bride price,’ in the form of livestock, money or both, to the family of the bride-to-be. The value of the bride price differs from family to family and in some cases, factors such as age, level of education and family background can be used as determining factors. Bride price demonstrates that the groom knows her worth and for the bride, it signifies that she is fully accepted by her in-laws. During the negotiation process, there are robust discussions between the newly acquainted in-laws; this is considered a bonding exercise.

Paying ‘bride price’ seems like a sales transaction however it must be borne in mind that the bride’s family use some of the money to pay for the wedding expenses. The practice is also largely heteronormative. Lobola is a topical subject and this documentary could not have come at a better time. The rise of South African reality television shows such as “Our Perfect Wedding” and “Umshado Wesintu”, have created renewed interest in the topic. With fewer African millennials choosing to get married, the relevance of Lobola is being debated fiercely. From Youtube videos to blogs and podcasts, online articles and social media groups, lobola is all the buzz. Popular culture has also been quick to catch on – there is a lobola app, a lobola wine, a lobola blanket… the list goes on and on. In addition to this, there is the legislative element, which will be explored through the unpacking of the Recognition Of Customary Marriages Act Of 1998.