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Marriage and Bridewealth (Ilobolo) in Contemporary Zulu Society

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2014

Dorrit Posel  and
Stephanie Rudwick
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Abstract:

This article investigates links between ilobolo (bridewealth) practices and marriage outcomes in contemporary Zulu society. It presents quantitative data showing very low marriage rates among Zulu adults, as well as interview evidence suggesting that the majority of Zulu adults identify ilobolo as a constraint to marriage. However, the interview evidence also suggests that ilobolo remains widely valued as a Zulu tradition and continues to be an integral and defining feature of a Zulu marriage. The article concludes that this tension—between the high cost of ilobolo and respect for ilobolo as a custom—contributes to the very low marriage rates observed among Zulu people today.

Résumé:

Cet article examine les liens entre les pratiques de l’ilobolo (la dot de mariage) et leurs conséquences sur le mariage dans la société Zulu contemporaine. Il présente des données quantitatives montrant de très faibles taux de mariage chez les adultes Zulu, ainsi que des résultats d’entretiens qui suggèrent que la majorité des adultes Zulu considèrent l’ ilobolo comme une contrainte au mariage. Toutefois, les résultats d’entretiens suggèrent également que la pratique de l’ilobolo reste largement appréciée comme une tradition zoulou et continue d'être un élément intégral et la définition d’un mariage zoulou. L’article conclut que cette tension entre le coût élevé de la pratique de l’ilobolo et le respect de celle-ci comme coutume contribue aux taux de nuptialité très faibles observés chez les Zoulous aujourd’hui.

Keywords

Marriagebridewealthilobolomarriage aspirationsSouth AfricaZulu
Type
ASR FORUM: THE POLITICS OF MARRIAGE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 57 , Issue 2 , September 2014 , pp. 51 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2014 

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