Lobola not to be confused with Ebola

Our domestic worker Jennifer is from Zimbabwe but has lived and worked in South Africa for about 10 years.  She moved here with her family because of the lack of job opportunities in her country for both her and her husband, France.  Her English is quite good so we will often have lengthly conversations about our lives, cultures and the differences between America, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.  I'm sure she has no idea that our conversations are often my favourite time of the day.  I've never had the opportunity to spend so much time with someone from a background and culture so vastly different from mine. Today while we were eating lunch and chatting and really out of no where she says what sounds like, "France has to finish his Ebola."  WAIT WHAT!?

No that didn't actually come out of my mouth but for a split second I though Oh S**T.  After a few questions and her repeating herself multiple times (remember she has a very thick accent and English is not her first language).  I found out that her husband, France is not legally her husband yet because he has not completed the Lobola.  Jennifer is a few years older than I am and her oldest child is 12 years but she is not able to get married because her husband is still working on paying what is essentially a "dowery."  She explained that the Lobola is a set amount of money that is paid to the woman's parents before marriage.  After they dated for about 1 year they decided to get married so he started the process by paying part of the fee and has been working on completing the rest of the requirements ever since.  He has bought his future mother in law a new suit for example and for the final requirement he must by her a cow.  A cow apparently costs about 400-500 US dollars so they are hoping to save up and purchase the cow next year.  I asked her if they thought of just throwing in the towel and getting married in their church without finishing the Lobola.  But as so many cultural traditions are, it is very important to them and their family, so they will wait and continue to save money. Once the Lobola is complete they will get married in their church and finally be able to wear wedding rings.