An African philosophical perspective on the concept and practice of lobola: continuity or disconnect with ubuntu?

Abstract

This study explores the connection between the cultural practice of lobola and the African philosophy of Ubuntu. It sets out to excavate meanings, understandings and interpretations of the concept and practice of lobola as it was practised during pre-colonial times and how it is currently practised in the post-colonial Southern African context. Through an interpretive desktop design, and a critical engagement with literature, the study explored the manifestation of Ubuntu in the concept and practice of lobola, in its ‘original form’ and in its current form. The findings of this study indicate that there is a disconnect between the practice of lobola as it is currently practised and the African philosophy of Ubuntu. The study found that the practice of lobola hinders access to marriage due to the exorbitant amount of money required

Nyakišišo ye e hlahloba kamano magareng ga mokgwa wa setšo wa lobola le filosofi ya Seafrika ya Ubuntu. E ikemišeditše go sekaseka ditlhalošo, dikwešišo le ditlhalošollo tše di amanago le kgopolo le mokgwa wa lobola bjalo ka ge e be di dirišwa mehleng ya pele ga bokoloniale, le ka fao e dirišwago ka gona mo maemong a Afrika Borwa bja ka Borwa ka morago ga bokoloniale. Nyakišišo ye e dirišitše mokgwa wa nyakišišo wa tlhathollo wa deskthopo (interpretive desktop research design) gomme ya sekaseka dingwalo tša maleba ka tshekatsheko ye e tseneletšego. Ka mokgwa wo, nyakišišo e nyakišišitše tekanyo yeo filosofi ya Ubuntu e bonagatšwago ka yona ka gare ga kgopolo le mokgwa wa lobola, bobedi ka sebopego sa yona sa mathomo le ka sebopego sa yona sa lehono. Diphihlelelo tša nyakišišo ye di bontšha gore go na le go se sepelelane magareng ga mokgwa wa lehono wa lobola le filosofi ya Seafrika ya Ubuntu. Nyakišišo e hweditše gore mokgwa wa lehono wa lobola o arogetšwe le metheo ya motheo le dikelo tša Ubuntu. Go feta moo, e hweditše gore mokgwa wa lobola ke lepheko go batho bao ba nyakago go tsena lenyalong ka lebaka la ditefelo tša tšhelete tše di godimo kudu tše di amanago le tefo ya lobola.

Lolu cwaningo luhlola kabanzi ubudlelwano obuphakathi kwesiko lokulobola kanye nefilosofi yase-Afrika yoBuntu. Luhlose ukumba luphinde luhlaziye izincazelo, ukuqondwa kanye nokuhunyushwa komqondo nomkhuba wokulobola njengoba kwakwenziwa ngaphambi kwesikhathi sobukoloni, kanye nendlela okwenziwa ngayo njengamanje esimweni saseNingizimu ne-Afrika ngemva kobukoloni. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise indlela yokucwaninga ehunyushayo esekelwe ekuhlaziyweni kwemibhalo (interpretive desktop design), kanye nokuhlaziywa okubucayi kwemithombo yolwazi efanele. Ngale ndlela, ucwaningo luhlolisise indlela ifilosofi yoBuntu ebonakala ngayo emcabangweni nasemkhubeni wokulobola, kokubili esimweni sawo sokuqala kanye nasendleleni owenziwa ngayo esikhathini samanje. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo ikhombisa ukuthi kunokungahambisani phakathi komkhuba wokulobola njengoba wenziwa namuhla kanye nefilosofi yase-Afrika yoBuntu. Ucwaningo luthole ukuthi indlela yokulobola yanamuhla isiphambukile ezimisweni nasezimisweni eziyisisekelo zoBuntu. Luphinde lwathola ukuthi umkhuba wokulobola uvimbela abantu abaningi ekungeneni emshadweni ngenxa yemali eningi kakhulu edingekayo ukuze kukhokhwe ilobolo.