Ilobola: (The Marriage Fee)

The story originates in Mozambique and spans a time period from the early forties to the late sixties. It revolves around the lives of two characters. Negome is an Afro-Portuguese girl, and Mofola, is a black Mozambican male, who is obsessed with the quest to raise enough money to pay the dowry (ilobola) for the love of his life. Gone are the days when ivory and cattle could be used to barter for a bride. The story characterizes the lives of black and white folk thrown together during this time period, when so many changes were taking place it is story is humorous, sad and sometimes tragic. Although this tale is fictional, the author has based it on people he has met, worked with as well as his own personal experiences growing up in this time period in Southern Africa.