The tradition of paying lobola, a customary payment made by a groom's family to the bride's family, is deeply ingrained in Zulu culture. But the practice of paying 11 cows for a bride, a figure that has become synonymous with Zulu lobola, is not a tradition that has always existed.
Culture expert, Professor Jabulani Maphalala, explains that before colonialism, families negotiated the price of lobola freely, paying whatever they could afford.
"Those who had nothing were also accommodated because they could negotiate and pay lobola when they had something," he said.
However, this all changed in 1869 when Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the British administrator for native affairs in Natal, stepped in. Known as Somtseu, Shepstone, concerned by the "disorganised" nature of lobola payments, imposed a standardised system.
While this rule has become deeply embedded in Zulu culture, times have changed. "After Shepstone imposed his rules, people started paying in cows, but things have moved, to a point where men are paying hard cash instead of cows, with the cash equaling the value of the cow," Professor Maphalala explained.
In 2023, King Misuzulu, the current Zulu monarch, pledged to negotiate a reduction in the number of lobola cows paid. He expressed concern about the declining number of weddings in the Zulu nation, while simultaneously witnessing a rise in gender-based violence.
King Misuzulu's spokesperson, Prince Simphiwe Zulu, has been contacted for an update on the King's progress in reducing the lobola price, but he requested time to consult with the King.
The legacy of Shepstone's intervention continues to shape the practice of lobola in Zulu culture. The fixed price of 11 cows, while now often paid in cash, remains a powerful symbol of the colonial influence on this deeply traditional practice.
