This August & September will see a hive of colourful activity in the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland as ‘Umhlanga’, or Annual Reed Dance Festival, begins.
The festival this year will start on August 27th, with the main day of the event (day 7) to happen on September 2nd. This is when the main ceremony occurs, with the dancing attended by the King. This will be a public holiday in Swaziland.
This ceremony is a centuries old
tradition where the Kingdom’s unmarried and childless females present
their newly cut reed to the Queen Mother to protect her residence. The
King sometimes makes use of the occasion to publicly court a prospective
fiancée or Liphovela.
When the main day arrives, young women
from all over Swaziland and beyond her borders converge on the royal
residence in Ludzidzini for this momentous occasion.
Maidens gather in groups and head out
along riverbanks to cut and collect tall reeds, bind them and return to
Ludzidzini, the Royal Homestead in Lobamba.
Tens of thousands of maidens, led by
Swazi princesses, provide a sea of colour as they dance and sing,
proudly carrying their cut reeds. Traditionally, virginity is a
pre-requisite for participation as it is considered taboo for an
‘impure’ woman to cut the reed.
Residents of this tiny mountainous
Kingdom are intensely proud of their deep culture and taking part in the
Festival is a proud and privileged moment for all the family.
The highlight of the event is the
reed-giving ceremony - one of Africa’s largest and most colourful
cultural spectacles. The maidens gather at Ludzidzini dressed in
traditional attire; bright short beaded skirts with colourful sashes
revealing their bare breasts to dance and sing and celebrate the
unification of the Kingdom’s women. His Majesty King Mswati lll joins
the celebrations to pay tribute to the maidens.
At the end of the day, the maidens present their cut reeds to the Queen Mother, Ndlovukazi, and the protective Guma (reed fence) around her homestead will be rebuilt.
The Umhlanga Festival is a visual
spectacle that bonds this small but perfectly formed nation. Its ever-
increasing popularity defies the apparent decline of traditional
cultures elsewhere in Africa. Witnessing this festival is a truly unique
experience. Visitors are welcome, but are vastly outnumbered by the
participants! This is a traditional event that allows spectators, not
one that exists for spectators.
See it for yourself and experience
Swaziland’s unique blend of ancient culture, pristine wilderness, year
round wildlife and spirit of adventure!
For more information about the event, plus information on tours/packages in Swaziland that include the Reed Dance
Reed dance is one of
the most adored and respected dances in South Africa. The Zulus consider
it important even to the extent that it is even attended by their
leaders. In Zululand, the dance takes place each year in September at
the royal palace. Girls from all parts of Zululand and several other
parts come to participate in the dance. The girls are supposed to wear
traditional attires which include beads, bracelets, necklaces and
colored sashes. During the celebrations, the women dance for their king
with exposed breasts and bottoms.
As the name suggests, during the dance, each girl carries a long reed
which is deposited on the floor at the approach of the king. The girls
are required to choose the longest and the strongest reeds. The dance is
led by a chief’s daughter or the Zulu princess.
See Also: 20 South African Songs You Should Listen To
Here are 10 Facts about the Reed Dance You’ve Never Heard of
1. The Dance was Introduced in 1991 as a Way of Encouraging the Girls to
Delay Sexual Activity
Zulus discourage sex before marriage and this dance was created as a way
of promoting that. One of the ceremony’s events is the test for
virginity. If the reed breaks before the girl reaches a specified point,
it is considered that the girl is no longer a virgin.
2. It Takes Eight Days
Reed dance takes the whole week and an extra day before it is concluded.
During each day, various practices are conducted. The king should
attend Two out of the eight days.
3. It Fosters Self Esteem
Individuals who participate in the dance are sure of what they have.
Virgins are sure to pass the test since they have the courage that they
have not engaged in any activity that is considered evil by the society.
4. It Boosts Cohesion
The fact that thousands of girls from the neighboring territories are
encouraged to participate in the dance means that the communities are
destined to always coexist. South Africa’s president is said to
constantly attend such dances in South Africa and this shows that it
brings cohesion. In Swaziland, King Mswati normally picks his wife’s
from the participants regardless of their tribes.
reed dance 3
sowetanlive.co.za
See Also: Xhosa people, Tradition and Dance
More Astonishing Facts about the Reed Dance
5. It is a Form of Anti-aids Campaign
All participants in the dance are required not to engage in sex before
marriage. It is interesting that this requirement has been adhered to by
the girls as evident by the number of girls who participate in the
dance.
6. It Entails no Competition
This eight-day ceremony is not a form of competition. It is meant to
bring cohesion and a way of rebuilding the culture from apartheid. It
also promotes a sense of cultural identity which is essential for nation
building.
7. Unauthorized Photography is Prohibited
Taking photos during the dance is discouraged. The dance is considered a
traditional practice and it should not be confused with pornography.
Since the photos should not be published on media platforms and
phonographic sites, the Zulus discourage unauthorized photography.
8. The Ceremony is not Centuries Old
Despite the fact that it has taken root, it should be remembered that in
Swaziland, the dance commenced during the reign of king Mswati.
Reed Dance 2
9. The Activities that Take Place During the Dance Does not Signify that
All is Well in Swaziland
Normally, dances are meant to signify the good things in the society.
Dances are common during celebrations and graduations but this is not
the case in Swaziland. In this regard, we should not be fooled into
believing and thinking that all is well in the kingdom of Eswatini. It
is even surprising to note that about 80% of the girls who participate
in the dance come from families who rely on food aids while their king
ranks among the richest individuals in Africa if not in the whole world.
10. The Dance is Full of Controversies
There are a couple of controversies that surround the practice. For
example, the dance is meant to discourage sex before marriage thus
reducing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as Aids.
However, Aids can also be contracted through anal sex which happens
quite often in the kingdom and this defeats the purpose of reducing
sexually transmitted diseases. A girl who has practiced anal sex is
still considered a virgin during the dance. The criterion used in
testing virginity is controversial too.
Conclusion
Various facts, information and controversies have been given about the
reed dance. Some individuals and societies support the dance while some
are against it, it’s left for you to judge
Read more: http://buzzsouthafrica.com/reed-dance/
Reed dance is one of
the most adored and respected dances in South Africa. The Zulus consider
it important even to the extent that it is even attended by their
leaders. In Zululand, the dance takes place each year in September at
the royal palace. Girls from all parts of Zululand and several other
parts come to participate in the dance. The girls are supposed to wear
traditional attires which include beads, bracelets, necklaces and
colored sashes. During the celebrations, the women dance for their king
with exposed breasts and bottoms.
As the name suggests, during the dance, each girl carries a long reed
which is deposited on the floor at the approach of the king. The girls
are required to choose the longest and the strongest reeds. The dance is
led by a chief’s daughter or the Zulu princess.
See Also: 20 South African Songs You Should Listen To
Here are 10 Facts about the Reed Dance You’ve Never Heard of
1. The Dance was Introduced in 1991 as a Way of Encouraging the Girls to
Delay Sexual Activity
Zulus discourage sex before marriage and this dance was created as a way
of promoting that. One of the ceremony’s events is the test for
virginity. If the reed breaks before the girl reaches a specified point,
it is considered that the girl is no longer a virgin.
2. It Takes Eight Days
Reed dance takes the whole week and an extra day before it is concluded.
During each day, various practices are conducted. The king should
attend Two out of the eight days.
3. It Fosters Self Esteem
Individuals who participate in the dance are sure of what they have.
Virgins are sure to pass the test since they have the courage that they
have not engaged in any activity that is considered evil by the society.
4. It Boosts Cohesion
The fact that thousands of girls from the neighboring territories are
encouraged to participate in the dance means that the communities are
destined to always coexist. South Africa’s president is said to
constantly attend such dances in South Africa and this shows that it
brings cohesion. In Swaziland, King Mswati normally picks his wife’s
from the participants regardless of their tribes.
reed dance 3
sowetanlive.co.za
See Also: Xhosa people, Tradition and Dance
More Astonishing Facts about the Reed Dance
5. It is a Form of Anti-aids Campaign
All participants in the dance are required not to engage in sex before
marriage. It is interesting that this requirement has been adhered to by
the girls as evident by the number of girls who participate in the
dance.
6. It Entails no Competition
This eight-day ceremony is not a form of competition. It is meant to
bring cohesion and a way of rebuilding the culture from apartheid. It
also promotes a sense of cultural identity which is essential for nation
building.
7. Unauthorized Photography is Prohibited
Taking photos during the dance is discouraged. The dance is considered a
traditional practice and it should not be confused with pornography.
Since the photos should not be published on media platforms and
phonographic sites, the Zulus discourage unauthorized photography.
8. The Ceremony is not Centuries Old
Despite the fact that it has taken root, it should be remembered that in
Swaziland, the dance commenced during the reign of king Mswati.
Reed Dance 2
9. The Activities that Take Place During the Dance Does not Signify that
All is Well in Swaziland
Normally, dances are meant to signify the good things in the society.
Dances are common during celebrations and graduations but this is not
the case in Swaziland. In this regard, we should not be fooled into
believing and thinking that all is well in the kingdom of Eswatini. It
is even surprising to note that about 80% of the girls who participate
in the dance come from families who rely on food aids while their king
ranks among the richest individuals in Africa if not in the whole world.
10. The Dance is Full of Controversies
There are a couple of controversies that surround the practice. For
example, the dance is meant to discourage sex before marriage thus
reducing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as Aids.
However, Aids can also be contracted through anal sex which happens
quite often in the kingdom and this defeats the purpose of reducing
sexually transmitted diseases. A girl who has practiced anal sex is
still considered a virgin during the dance. The criterion used in
testing virginity is controversial too.
Conclusion
Various facts, information and controversies have been given about the
reed dance. Some individuals and societies support the dance while some
are against it, it’s left for you to judge
Read more: http://buzzsouthafrica.com/reed-dance/
