Our spelling of Labola is a little different to the Zulu tradition. This is because the name LABOLA is actually a combination of the co-founders’, Lindy and Bodil’s nicknames – aka LALA and BO. We, of course, LOVED the fact that it hinted toward the very well known LOBOLO tradition and so it was a no brainer for us.

From Wikipedia: “Lobolo or Lobola in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele is sometimes translated as bride price, and is a traditional Southern African custom whereby the man pays the family of his fiancée for her hand in marriage. (Compare with the European dowry custom where the woman brings assets.) The custom is aimed at bringing the two families together, fostering mutual respect, and indicating that the man is capable of supporting his wife financially and emotionally.”