Lobola cows - SOLD
Richard Mudariki (b 1985)
Lobola cows - 2013
Acrylic on canvas
50 x 50 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
Sold - 2014
Lobola is an age old African marriage custom which is still practiced today, although certain aspects have changed. It is a ritual in which the man pays the family of his fiancée for her hand in marriage; a custom meant to bring the two families together. It is meant to be an offering of gratitude to the parents of his future wife for raising her to womanhood. It is customary that the Lobola should include cattle, which are a crucial mark of wealth in the African culture. However, in some contemporary marriage rituals Lobola is paid in hard cash, and it has evolved into an extortionist practice. Some have challenged the relevance of this cultural custom with arguments that it is now obsolete, and others argue that it should be discontinued as affordability has become more important than culture and love.