Set and filmed in South Africa, Lobola Man is a distinctly regional take on the romantic comedy genre that revolves around an African tradition many won’t be familiar with. I’ve dug up all the details of the film’s production and the concept underpinning the narrative to give audiences a bit more context for Thabang Moleya’s Netflix film.
Filming Locations
Lobola Man is set and was made in South Africa, and focuses on the customs of love and marriage, so it makes sense that the crew would shoot in its country of origin.
An article on Becoming The Muse reviewing the film reveals production details, including the primary areas in which it was filmed. Both Johannesburg and Soweto are named, and some beautiful establishing shots capture the unique setting and tone of the film.
Johannesburg is the capital city of South Africa, and the crew would use the area for the scenes set in the bustle of the city.
A feature on List23 reveals that you can spot the Soweto Towers and the decommissioned Orlando Power Station in various aerial shots.
The Director Behind Lobola Man
Thabang Moleya, director of Lobola Man
The film’s director is Thabang Moleya, who has had a long and varied career in film and TV.
Moleya would hone his craft working in advertising, and go on to direct two episodes of the TV series Jozi H way back in 2006. Other shows such as Jacob’s Cross, The Lab, Montana, and Remix would find him in the director’s chair and he would then move into film, starting in 2026 with Happiness is a Four Letter Word.
Moleya’s next feature would be Happiness Ever After, before landing Lobola Man, but his work in television would continue, including shows such as the internationally screened Professionals and Soon Comes the Night.
The director would also be in front of the camera, initially as a presenter on the show K. TV and a role in 2011’s Tokolosh. Born and raised in Tembisa, Gauteng, the director is also a co-founder of Sereti Films, and in an interview with Marklives.com he revealed his interest in film came at an early age:
“In my teen years I fell in love with photography and processing [my] own black-and-white images in the dark room. I was soon collaborating with friends, writing scripts and shooting short films — we were only 15/16 years old at the time but this bug had caught us.”
What Is A “Lobola Man”?
The premise of Lobola Man revolves around a traditional South African tradition. PreNup.co.za explains the practice:
“In which a man pays a bride price to the family of his prospective wife in exchange for her hand in marriage. The payment is typically made in the form of cattle, although it can also be made in the form of cash or other valuables.”
Essentially the custom is a price paid by the groom to the wife’s family, basically as a thank you for producing such a wonderful woman. In the film, the protagonist negotiates these exchanges, usually with a fair helping of finesse involving impersonating distant relatives and other such shenanigans.
Understanding this tradition will hopefully help you to follow the film’s themes more clearly since Lobola Man isn’t entirely supportive of the practice.
