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Mbabane – King Nswati III has summoned Imbali to participate in this year’s annual Reed Dance ceremony, which will open for registration on August 27, 2024.
Princess Sakhizwe of Inkosatana Yembali delivered the King’s message at the Ludzidzini Palace yesterday and said the young girls would be commissioned to fetch the reeds on August 28, 2024. She said the reeds will be cut on August 29, 2024 and brought back to the Luzizni Palace on August 30, 2024.
On August 31, 2024, she said the maidens would take some time off to prepare for the delivery of the reeds on September 1, 2024. She said the maidens would dance in front of His Majesty the King and the world on September 2, 2024. The King urged the chiefs (tikhulu) to send two women and four men to look after the maidens during the event. He warned the chiefs not to entrust children as they would not be able to travel long distances due to the scarcity of reeds. The King also reminded the men to sleep separately from the women and Imbali during the event. Princess Sahizwe was flanked by Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Jane Simelane who declared September 2, 2024 a public holiday.
Simelane said the festival was meant to give emaSwati an opportunity to support and encourage girls. She urged emaSwati to attend the event in large numbers. Also present at the event were former tindvuna and acting Imbali supervisor Hlangabeza Mdluli, director of cultural and traditional affairs Prince Bukhosi and Lutsango. The Reed Dance is one of South Africa’s most prestigious events, where girls celebrate their virginity in front of His Majesty the King. The event is designed to encourage girls to remain pure and focus on education until they reach the required age for marriage. Some parts of South Africa take this culture so seriously that girls are required to undergo virginity tests to qualify for the event and receive other benefits. Reeds were used to build the walls (emaguma) of royal residences across the country. In addition to Umhlanga, Swaziland also uses Umcwasho to encourage men to stay away from girls.
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