lobola

verb

Offer recompense to a father (the family's custodian) for loss that would be suffered by the marriage of his daughter; by which he is deprived her assistance and as such acquires just claim for compensation. 2. Provide a guarantee that his (i.e. the father's) daughter will be treated kindly and offer him comfort that you (the suitor) have the means to provide for her and the (new) family. 3. Lobola is consideration negotiated by the two families and forms the basis from which a relationship (or friendship) is built between the families.

Affixes:

um (Class 1 Noun) aba (Class 2 Noun) uku- (Class 15 Noun) -ani (Directive, Verb form) -ela (Applicative, Verb form) -wa (Passive, Verb form)

umloboli

noun (class 1) | umloboli

The man who engaged or is engaging (as a suitor) in the process of lobola.

abaloboli

noun (class 2) | aba + lobola + i | abaloboli

Men who engaged or are engaging (as suitors or in the case of one event, paternal uncles of the suitor) in the process of lobola.

Context:

Plural of umloboli

ukulobola

noun (class 15) | uku + lobola | ukulobola

To engage (as a suitor and/or his paternal uncles) in the process of lobola.

lobolani

verb (directive) | lobola + ani | lobolani

[You must] engage in lobola; Get married

Context:

Plural of lobola; instruction or request directed at several people

lobolela

verb (applicative) | lobola + ela | lobolela

To compensate (in lobola) on behalf of a suitor; To engage in lobola at (a place or location); To engage in lobola for (a reason)

lotyolwa

verb (passive) | lobola + iwa | lotyolwa

[Of a woman] being married through the process of lobola

Example:

Ulotyolwa ngulamfo athandana naye. 'She is being married through lobola (undergoing the process) by that man she's is seeing.'

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