Contemporary functions of ilobolo (bridewealth) in urban South Afrian Zulu society

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dc.date.accessioned 2017-09-26 en
dc.date.accessioned 2022-08-17T14:49:08Z
dc.date.available 2022-08-17T14:49:08Z
dc.date.issued 2017-09-26 en
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/11245
dc.description.abstract The functions and meanings of bridewealth in African societies have been analysed extensively in anthropological and historical studies. Although bridewealth remains widely practised in Southern Africa, few studies have examined the custom in a contemporary context. This paper addresses the paucity of research by focusing on South African Zulu society where, among all cultural traditions, the payment of bridewealth (ilobolo) continues to be one of the most salient. On the basis of recent qualitative research data collected in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, we argue that ilobolo practices among urban Zulu people are multifaceted and its contemporary functions debated and contested. However, there is also broad consensus about the obligation to uphold the custom based on a complex web of cultural and spiritual motives, socio-economic considerations and collectivist identity politics. en
dc.format.medium Print en
dc.subject KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE en
dc.subject ZULU (PEOPLE) en
dc.subject LOBOLO (BRIDEWEALTH) en
dc.subject CULTURAL RIGHTS en
dc.title Contemporary functions of ilobolo (bridewealth) in urban South Afrian Zulu society en
dc.type Journal articles - Non-HSRC staff en
dc.description.version Y en
dc.ProjectNumber TAAMAA en
dc.Volume 32(1) en
dc.BudgetYear 2014/15 en
dc.ResearchGroup Service Delivery, Democracy and Governance en
dc.SourceTitle Journal of Contemporary African Studies en
dc.ArchiveNumber 9937 en
dc.PageNumber 118-136 en
dc.outputnumber 8901 en
dc.bibliographictitle Rudwick, S. & Posel, D. (2014) Contemporary functions of ilobolo (bridewealth) in urban South Afrian Zulu society. Journal of Contemporary African Studies. 32(1):118-136. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/11245 en
dc.publicationyear 2014 en
dc.contributor.author1 Rudwick, S. en
dc.contributor.author2 Posel, D. en


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