But Southern Africa now gets the Lobola App. DW came across the developer. Lobola may be the title fond of bride cost when you look at the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi countries which span the southern tip of Africa. It’s a custom where the group of the bridegroom guy pays the household of this bride on her turn in wedding and has now experienced presence for hundreds of years. The bride’s household, or perhaps in many cases her male family relations, chooses exactly how much to need through the bridegroom in the shape of money and cows that are live.

But, Robert Matsaneng, a south that is 26-year-old software developer, has nevertheless taken Lobola to some other degree. He’s got developed a Lobola calculator which has had created excitement in Southern Africa and past. The Lobola software has the capacity to calculate just how much a woman will probably be worth while the true quantity of real time cows which should be compensated aside from the money.

It really is a lot more of a enjoyable app states Robert Matsaneng

Lobola plays a giant role in South African culture. The nephew of Southern Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, Khulubuse Zuma, as an example, paid 100 cows to your 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 abruptly confronted by the outlook of having to pay Lobola.

Unlike the original haggling for the bride’s turn in wedding, Matsaneng’s software is more of the light-hearted event. “now it really is nevertheless for enjoyable but if people believe that it may change it traditional haggling then they could give it a crack, ” the application’s manufacturer told DW. The tradition is too crucial that you be changed by the computer pc software, Matsaneng insisted, but possibly it might complement it.

Height, waistline and marital status

The software determines just how much a lady may be worth by judging her beauty, academic status, and history that is marital. “You are served with real concerns such as for instance your height, how old you are, your bodyweight along with your waistline size. After that it’s going to ask you some questions that are personal whether are you hitched before, have you got kids, ” Matsaneng explained.

In accordance with the software, a 25-year-old girl, that is used, wears size 32 jeans, weighs 55 kilograms (121 pounds), is 1.65 meters (5.4 foot) tall, considers herself extremely stunning, but just has a top college certification and kids, is really worth a paltry of $500 with no cows. Then she would be worth $4,000 and five cows if the same woman had had a better education, no children and had not been married before.

President Jacob Zuma, seen only at his wedding that is sixth referred to as a traditionalist in marital issues

Character matters too

Usually, beauty and education are not taken into consideration for a bride that is suitable, which regularly comprises more than simply cows. It usually includes gift suggestions for the moms and dads, money or food when it comes to marriage ceremony dominican bride. The quantity mostly varies according to the wide range of this bridegroom and undoubtedly the desirability for the bride.

Ladies’ liberties activist, Nomalanga Dlamini, believes negotiations between families should be chosen to your indicators employed for the software. “I think the standard technique is the better because, honestly, the application cannot predict what sort of a person you are or what sort of a spouse you will make, whether you’d be a genuine wife, or can you be considered a cheat or stubborn or exactly what, so that the old-fashioned means could be the best. “

However a number of teenagers like Noel Mackenzie are delighted by Matsaneng’s Lobola calculator. “we have been now staying in a world that is modern need certainly to embrace it. It shows given that our company is maybe perhaps maybe not likely to be cheated since you will have a medical method of determining these bride price. “

The application has stirred interest that is much the planet as well as on social networking platforms like Twitter. Leroy Gumede, a south that is young software developer stated the application is a sign that African software designers is as competitive as their counterparts somewhere else. “It is simply a mix of inspiration and achieving a sense of what you need to accomplish, ” he told DW.

Following a overwhelming desire for their Lobola calculator, Matsaneng states that he’s now focusing on one thing larger as well as perhaps much more helpful.

DW recommends

Swaziland: Africa’s final absolute monarchy

It’s considered a work of terrorism to criticize King Mswati III. But as Swaziland’s prohibited opposition will continue to speak away, the worldwide community turns an eye that is blind. (14.07.2014)

Campaigning for the child marriage-free Tanzania

A drive that is new end youngster wedding is underway in Tanzania. In a nation where very nearly two out of five girls will undoubtedly be hitched before their eighteenth birthday celebration, the “Child Marriage-Free Zone” campaign faces an uphill fight. (01.09.2014)

Misuse of anti-dowry legislation ‘exposes failure of Indian authorities’

Asia’s top court stated the united states’s anti-dowry legislation will be misused by “disgruntled” wives. But Ranjana Kumari informs DW the fault for the abuse does not lie entirely because of the ladies, but additionally with police force agencies. (07.07.2014)

• Date 27.02.2015
• Author Thuso Khumalo / therefore
• Relevant SubjectsSci-Tech, Tech, Southern Africa, App
• KeywordsLobola, software, South Africa, bride cost, dowry, technology, Robert Matsaneng
• Feedback: do you consider the training of having to pay a bride pricing is acceptable in a society? Forward us an email. Please consist of your country and name in your answer.
• PrintPrint these pages
• Permalink https: //p. Dw.com/p/1Eii8

More content

Angela Merkel to spotlight migration, trade on day at Southern Africa, Angola 06.02.2020

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s three-day visit to Southern Africa and Angola will deal with migration. But expect talks that are economic get lots of attention also.

DW Information Africa with Christine Mhundwa, 05 Febuary 2020 05.02.2020

Lesotho’s first woman Maesaiah Thabane is faced with murder on the killing of this very first spouse of her spouse, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane. Additionally the international investment and South African pres

AfricaLink on Air – 05 February 2020 05.02.2020

The test of 47 guys charged with homosexuality in Nigeria is yet again adjourned until March+++ Guinea’s pres