Abstract

Background: The process of Lobola or Bride price in South Africa is ongoing though there are detractors who state it commercialises females as a commodity.

Objective: The researched was aimed to glean the views of students towards Lobola at a previously disadvantaged tertiary institution in South Africa.

Method: The pilot study adopted a quantitative approach with a qualitative element. The research used a cross-sectional survey design with a Likert type scale and open-ended questions. A convenience sample was utilised with a 100 respondents (50 males and 50 females to ensure gender representivity).

Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data as well as a Chi square test. Qualitative data from the open-ended questions was analysed using Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) and also presented in tabular format.

Results: The results indicated that the majority of the students support the practice of Lobola and see it as a necessary part of African tradition. There were no significant differences between males and females in the sample in their views towards the payment of Lobola.

Keywords: Africa; Bride-Price; Ethnic group; Tradition