Chronicle Editor
MBABANE/LUSAKA. – Zambian President Edgar Lungu was the guest of Swaziland’s King Mswati III at the annual Umhlanga or Reed Dance ceremony held on Monday, September 4 at Ludzidzini Royal palace near the capital Mbabane.
This year’s traditional chastity rite was participated by about 40,000 maidens who sang and danced for the King at the climax of the week-long event.
President Lungu donned traditional Swazi outfit and joined the King and his regiment of Swazi men during the “kudlalisela” session, which is a procession around the dancing arena to appreciate the maidens.
Last year’s ceremony saw over 98,000 maidens participate from the four regions of the southern African country.
The maidens sang praises to King Mswati III while in long queues as instructions were being issued on the rules and regulations of the eight-day ceremony, the media reported.
Singing of derogatory songs is not allowed including the application of make-up and wearing of hair weaves.
A loud scream of excitement was accorded the news of the gift from the King: hot showers.
“You are requested not to use river water as the mornings are still cold, better yet the king has made a provision for all of us to shower with warm water so we are in no danger of catching colds,” Swazi Observer quoted an organiser who informed the maidens.
Some gifts given by the King in the past years included sport shoes for the women.
The registered maidens camping at the Ludzidzini royal residence, where the Queen Mother lives, will march to Engabezweni royal residence where they will be commissioned by King Mswati III before they go out to surrounding communities to cut tall reeds.
Placed according to age groups and led by male guards, the maidens put the reeds together and send them back to the royal residence the following day. The reeds are used to mend holes in the reed fences and buildings.
The maidens rest for a day and take baths mostly in the river. They then prepare their traditional costumes including bead necklaces, anklets, skirts and a sash.
They then dress up in their skirts and sash with their bosom exposed, as their customs stipulate. Holding the knives they used to cut the reeds as a symbol of their virginity, they march to the forecourt of the King’s palace where the royal family, guests, tourists and the public are seated.
The maidens display culture and tradition as they sing and dance for the King who chooses a new wife at the end of the ceremony.
The annual ceremony created in the 1940s in Swaziland is to preserve the women’s chastity before marriage, serve the Queen Mother, and strengthen solidarity among the women as they work together.
The Queen Mother is Her Majesty Queen Ntfombi who is the mother of King Mswati III. She was the wife of King Sobhuza II who ruled Swaziland from 1921 to his death in 1982.
King Sobhuza II was succeeded by his son King Mswati III in 1983 when he was Crown Prince and then in 1986 when he was crowned King at the age of 18. He currently has 15 wives and 30 children compared to his father who left behind 70 wives and 210 children.
Swaziland is one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies. – Africa News
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