Lobola (Bridewealth) in Contemporary Southern Africa: Implications for Gender Equality PDF
Preview Lobola (Bridewealth) in Contemporary Southern Africa: Implications for Gender Equality
Lobola (Bridewealth) in Contemporary Southern Africa Implications for Gender Equality Edited by Lovemore Togarasei · Ezra Chitando Lobola (Bridewealth) in Contemporary Southern Africa Lovemore Togarasei • Ezra Chitando Editors Lobola (Bridewealth) in Contemporary Southern Africa Implications for Gender Equality Editors Lovemore Togarasei Ezra Chitando Department of Theology and Department of Religious Studies, Religious Studies Classics and Philosophy University of Botswana University of Zimbabwe Gaborone, Botswana Harare, Zimbabwe ISBN 978-3-030-59522-7 ISBN 978-3-030-59523-4 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59523-4 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG. The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland A cknowledgement We are grateful to the participants of the Association of Theological Institutions in Southern and Central Africa (ATISCA) conference held in Harare in July 2016 who debated gender issues in Southern Africa with passion and clarity. They prompted us to consider the production of a book that addresses gender implications of the practice of lobola in the region. v c ontents 1 Introduction 1 Lovemore Togarasei and Ezra Chitando Part I History and Background of Lobola 11 2 No to Bride Price/Bride Wealth, Yes to Roora: Investigating the Meaning, Function and Purpose of Roora as a Ritual 13 Nisbert Taisekwa Taringa and Godfrey Museka 3 Roora/Lobola Language, Meaning and Function: A Keystone of Shona Culture 29 Francis Matambirofa 4 Bride Wealth in Southern Africa: Origin, Functions, Rights, and Gender-Based Violence 45 John Chitakure Part II Lobola in Sacred Texts and Literature 63 5 The Bible in the Lobola Debate 65 Lovemore Togarasei vii viii CoNTENTS 6 The Jewish and Shona Perspectives of Bride Wealth in Light of Calls for Roora Abolition 79 Francis Machingura and Liveson Tatira 7 The Biblical and Cultural Bases for Lobola in Light of Calls for Lobola Abolition in the African Context 95 Eliot Tofa 8 Disempowerment of Men by Men? A Comparative Analysis of Lobola and Mahr Impact on Non-hegemonic Masculinities in Zimbabwe 109 Edmore Dube 9 Roora (Bride Price) and Femininity of Entrapment in ChiShona Literature 129 Beatrice Taringa 10 “Jojina,” “Marujata” and “Chihera”: Celebrating Women’s Agency in the Debate on Roora in Shona Culture 147 Ezra Chitando Part III Lobola Practices in Some Southern African Communities 165 11 Bogadi Practice and the Place of Women in the Botswana Society 167 Fidelis Nkomazana 12 Mutation of Lobola and “Othering” of Women in Ndebele Culture 185 Sambulo Ndlovu 13 African Culture and Modernity: A Critical Review of the Vhavenḓa Lumalo Practice in Zimbabwe 201 Silibaziso Mulea CoNTENTS ix 14 A Critical Assessment of Lobola Marriage Practices in Malawi: Mzimba Case Study 217 Mastone L. K. Mbewe 15 Ndzovolo Practices Among Vatsonga in Zimbabwe and Their Implications on Gender 231 Steyn Khesani Madlome 16 Gender Implications of the Metaphorical Use of Mapere (Hyenas) in Some Roora Practices Among the Shona People in Zimbabwe 247 Benard Pindukai Humbe and Excellent Chireshe 17 Commercialisation of Marriage Rites and Commodification of Women in Contemporary Times: The Discourse of Lobola in the Public Sphere in Zambia 263 Nelly Mwale and Joseph Chita 18 Intersection of Lobola, Intimate Partner Violence and Love Among Karanga Christians in Chivi District, Zimbabwe 283 Excellent Chireshe 19 Creating Alternatives to the Commercialisation of Magadi Among Bapedi People in South Africa 303 Mookgo Solomon Kgatle Part IV Philosophical and Theological Reflections on the Practice of Lobola 315 20 An Enquiry into the Value of Human Life: The Lobola Perspective 317 Clive Tendai Zimunya and Chipo Hatendi 21 Contextual African Theological Interpretation of Ilobola as a Gender Issue in the Era of Globalisation 329 Moji Ruele x CoNTENTS 22 L obola and Gender Equality: A Theological Hermeneutic Approach 343 Blazio Manobo 23 Our Debt to Our Parents: Perspectives on Lobola in the Shona Culture 361 Clive Tendai Zimunya Index 375 n c otes on ontributors Excellent Chireshe is Associate Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Great Zimbabwe University, and a research fellow at the University of the Free State. She holds a doctorate in Religious Studies, with a focus on gender-based vio- lence. Her research interests include religion and gender, religion and eth- ics and sociology of religion. She has a considerable number of publications in reputable outlets, mostly on religion and gender. Joseph Chita is a Lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Zambia. John Chitakure is Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at The Mexican American Catholic College, and Adjunct Professor of the Religious Quest at the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas. He is the author of, among others, Things That My Father Forgot to Tell Me (2019). Ezra Chitando is Professor of History and Phenomenology of Religion at the University of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa Regional Coordinator of the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy, World Council of Churches. His research interests include religion and gen- der, sexuality, health, politics, development and security. Edmore Dube holds a PhD in Christian-Muslim Dialogue from the University of Zimbabwe. He has also published on post-Conciliar mar- riage in Africa (2015). His recent publication on the Bible and gender in xi
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