Entrants's Name: Mpho Lebogo

Country: South Africa

Field: Cultural Preservation

Innovation - idea: Lobola never had a formal document that legalise the traditional marriages. With the introduction of the lobola contract, spouses and their families are now legally married and protected from the date of signing.

Innovation - why it is pioneering: It has changed the perception of purchase of a wife to a new meaning of entering into a marriage.

Strategy - how it achieves impact: Prospective Spouses and their respective families enter into a marriage agreement with a condition of refund should the agreement not completed. The contract serves to remind the negotiators the important facts of traditional marriage like MOUTH Opener, Prescribed Items, Living Will and joining of estate assets by spouses or separate of assets.

Strategy - growth plans: Setting up of the Lobolo Institute within the townships and semi-rural villages

Impact to date: The project received a thumb-up by Dept of Home Affairs in South Africa and endorsement by Proudly SA Campaign. The initiative cannot be copied as it is copy righted. But the impact of the project is shown by the number of media coverage we had..from the Voice of America, French media, SAFm, Kayafm and SABC Tv and etc

Future impact: Traditional marriages in Africa will never be same and the new families that will be born or builded under the lobola contract will be of a solid foundation. The new generation will undertstand that African marriages builded on cultural values lasts for ever.

Sustainability - resource base: Currently the lobolo institute is operated by one owner,who has invested his capital to operate it. The contract is selling for R250.00 a copy. other services are problem solving which the consultation costs R250 per session. And other product is Lobolo Negotiation and the fee is R1000.00 per session.

The strategic plan is to partner with an organization that undertstand our services and can sponsor the lobolo institute to be a free or minimum fee service to all ordinary people of SA.

Major challenge for the field: Lobola is rooted to many African people's hearts and to pay for services that has always been for free is a challenge. But should the service be for free, people will ultimately demand the services. Hence, this service will be suitable if the government can adopt it and it make available for free.

Contact Information:

Name: Mr Mpho Lebogo - Self Employed
Mailing address: lobolo@telkomsa.net
Country: South Africa
Email: lobolo@telkomsa.net
Tel: +27824662356
Website: www.mzansibride.co.za/lobolo.htm

Bio: Mr. Mpho Hemilton Lebogo (CAIB) SA, IOB (Institute of Bankers in South Africa, Banking Diploma, Legal aspect and Banking Law, Banking Certificate and Matric.

MPHO LEBOGO was awarded a Mentorship Support Program by National Business Initiatives from the year 2000/1 as well as the 2005 through support program with Khula 'Thuso' Enterprise. He was nominated to participate as the Torch Bearer along side the influential Persons like George Bizos, Lucas Radebe, Miriam Makeba and Baby Jake Matlala at the 2004 Samsung Olympic Torch Relay for Athens Olympics at Cape Town. Mpho was appointed to the board of the Women's Business Association as a mentor to young female entrepreneurs.

His company, Lobola / Family Institution, is dedicated to promoting the survival and adaptation of traditional values in a contemporary context. One of Mr. Lebogo's innovations, the lobola contract, endorsed by Dept of Home Affairs and Proudly SA has been featured in media such as The Sunday Times, Sowetan, Drum magazine, Khaya FM, Safm, SABC, Voice of America, French Internet, Enterprise Magazine; Financial Mail and Business Day.

He has conducted numerous presentations at the houses of traditional Leaders in Northern Province and churches of all the nations in Gauteng. He was awarded with 2004 Homegrown Award (Innovation of the year nominee )by Proudly SA Campaign. He worked for Nedbank - Card Division- Business Banking-Professional and commercial banking. He later joined First National Bank and Rand Merchant Bank.