having to pay lobola, dowry, or bride cost is just a customized in several elements of the global globe and determining it really is steeped in tradition.

having to pay lobola, dowry, or bride cost is just a customized in several elements of the global globe and determining it really is steeped in tradition.

But South Africa now has got the Lobola App. DW came across the developer. Lobola may be the title directed at bride cost within the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi countries which span the tip that is southern of. It really is a customized when the group of the bridegroom guy will pay your family regarding the bride on her turn in wedding and contains held it’s place in presence for years and years. The bride’s family members, or perhaps in many situations her male family relations, chooses simply how much to need through the bridegroom by means of money and real time cows.

Nevertheless, Robert Matsaneng, a 26-year-old south african software developer, has nevertheless taken Lobola to a different degree. A Lobola has been created by him calculator that includes produced excitement in Southern Africa and past. The Lobola application has the capacity to calculate simply how much a woman may be worth additionally the true quantity of real time cows which should be compensated aside from the money.

It really is a lot more of a great software claims Robert Matsaneng

Lobola plays a big part in South society that is african. The nephew of Southern Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, Khulubuse Zuma, for instance, paid 100 cows ghana dating into the grouped group of the Swazi princess, Fikisiwe Dlamini. And a 2013 comedy that is romantic “Fanie Fourie’s Lobola”, told the storyline of the white Afrikaans-speaking South African, who had been unexpectedly met with the chance of having to pay Lobola.

Unlike the original haggling for the bride’s turn in wedding, Matsaneng’s application is much a lot more of the affair that is light-hearted. “now it is nevertheless for enjoyable but then they can give it a crack, ” the app’s maker told DW if people feel that it can replace it traditional haggling. The tradition is simply too vital that you be changed because of the computer pc computer software, Matsaneng insisted, but maybe it may complement it.

Height, waistline and status that is marital

The software determines just how much a girl may be worth by judging her beauty, academic status, and marital history. “You are offered real concerns such as for instance your height, your actual age, your bodyweight along with your waistline size. After that it’ll ask you some questions that are personal whether have you been hitched before, have you got young ones, ” Matsaneng explained.

In line with the software, a woman that is 25-year-old that is used, wears size 32 jeans, weighs 55 kilograms (121 pounds), is 1.65 meters (5.4 foot) tall, considers herself really breathtaking, but has only a high college certification and kids, may be worth a paltry of $500 with no cows. In the event that exact same girl had had a significantly better training, no kids and had maybe not been married prior to, then she will be well worth $4,000 and five cows.

President Jacob Zuma, seen only at their wedding that is sixth called a traditionalist in marital matters

Character matters too

Usually, beauty and training aren’t taken into consideration for a suitable bride price, which regularly comprises more than simply cows. It frequently includes gift suggestions when it comes to moms and dads, meals or money when it comes to marriage ceremony. The quantity mainly will depend on the wide range associated with bridegroom and undoubtedly the desirability of this bride.

Ladies’ legal rights activist, Nomalanga Dlamini, believes negotiations between families can be chosen into the indicators employed for the software. “we think the original technique is the greatest because, honestly, the application cannot predict what sort of an individual you are or what type of a spouse you will make, you be a cheat or stubborn or just what, so that the old-fashioned method is the greatest. Whether you will be a genuine spouse, or would”

Nonetheless many teenagers like Noel Mackenzie are delighted by Matsaneng’s Lobola calculator. “Our company is now located in a world that is modern need to embrace it. It shows given that we have been perhaps maybe perhaps not likely to be cheated since you will see a way that is scientific of these bride price. “

The application has stirred interest that is much the entire world as well as on social media marketing platforms like Twitter. Leroy Gumede, a new south african software designer stated the application is a sign that African software designers is often as competitive as his or her counterparts somewhere else. “It really is simply a mix of inspiration and having an concept of what you would like to complete, ” he told DW.

Following a overwhelming fascination with their Lobola calculator, Matsaneng states that he’s now taking care of one thing larger as well as perhaps much more helpful.

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  • Date 27.02.2015
  • Author Thuso Khumalo / therefore
  • Related SubjectsSci-Tech, Tech, Southern Africa, App
  • KeywordsLobola, application, Southern Africa, bride price, dowry, technology, Robert Matsaneng
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