Document text
Our lobola list and budget
The in-laws' list, what we put aside each month and what was paid on the day
Groom: [GROOM'S NAME]
Bride: [BRIDE'S NAME]
Munyai (go-between): [MUNYAI'S NAME]
Day: [DATE OF THE ROORA]
The list and our budget
Item How many Price each Total
Opening the talks — vhuramuromo / isivulamlomo 1 US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
Rutsambo — the main lobola amount agreed 1 US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
Cattle (danga) — or their cash value [N] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
Mother's cow — mombe youmai / inkomo kamama 1 US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
Suits and coats for father and uncles (majasi) [N] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
For amai: outfit, blanket, mbereko and the other items on her list 1 US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
Groceries for the day 1 US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
Our side: transport, food, outfits, the munyai 1 US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT]
Total US$ [TOTAL]
We put aside: US$ [AMOUNT] already; US$ [AMOUNT] a month from [FIRST DATE] to [LAST DATE] — [N] deposits.
Monthly plan
Date Deposit Put aside by then Done
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
[DATE] US$ [AMOUNT] US$ [AMOUNT] ☐
On the day: asked, paid and the balance
Item on the in-laws' list Asked Paid on the day Balance
Opening the talks — vhuramuromo / isivulamlomo US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
Rutsambo — the main lobola amount agreed US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
Cattle (danga) — or their cash value US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
Mother's cow — mombe youmai / inkomo kamama US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
Suits and coats for father and uncles (majasi) US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
For amai: outfit, blanket, mbereko and the other items on her list US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
Groceries for the day US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
Our side: transport, food, outfits, the munyai US$ [AMOUNT] US$ ______ US$ ______
Total US$ [TOTAL] US$ ______ US$ ______
Balance to be paid by [DATE], received by [NAME] on behalf of the bride's family.
Grocery list (if the in-laws ask for it)
Item How many Bought
Cooking oil, 5 L 2 ☐
Rice, 10 kg 2 ☐
Mealie meal, 10 kg 3 ☐
Sugar, 2 kg 4 ☐
Flour, 2 kg 3 ☐
Salt, tea leaves, spices 1 ☐
Chicken pieces / 2 kg packs 6 ☐
Beef, kg 10 ☐
Soft drinks, 2 L 12 ☐
Bread loaves 10 ☐
Before the day
☐ The munyai has the in-laws' list in writing and knows who speaks for our side.
☐ Cash counted and split into envelopes, one per item on the list.
☐ Clothes for amai and the majasi bought and wrapped, sizes checked.
☐ Groceries delivered the day before, if the in-laws asked for them.
☐ Transport for our side booked; who comes is agreed with the munyai.
☐ A notebook for what was paid on the day and what remains.
For the groom's family: ________________________________ Date: ____/____/________
For the bride's family: ________________________________ Date: ____/____/________
Lobola is a family custom, not a price: the in-laws' list decides, and it differs between families, totems and regions. All amounts are in US dollars and are the family's own — the examples are not average prices.