Times Of Swaziland: BUGANU FESTIVAL 1ST LEG NEW DATES REVEALED

BUGANU FESTIVAL 1ST LEG NEW DATES REVEALED
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Sibusiso Zwane on 28/01/2025 08:36:00


LUDZIDZINI - His Majesty King Mswati III has blessed new dates for the first leg
of the much-anticipated Marula (Buganu) Festival. The festival will be held
between February 21 and 23, 2025 at Buhleni Royal Residence. The changes were
announced Indvuna yeLutsango (Hhohho Region) Lontfombi  Ndzimandze on behalf of
His Majesty King Mswati III at Nkhanini, yesterday afternoon. The indvuna said
following the initial announcement which was to the effect that the celebration
was supposed to be held on the weekend that begins on February 7, 2024, the King
then blessed the new dates for the festival.
Residence
In that regard, she said the King has summoned the Lutsango Regiment to Buhleni
Royal Residence for the celebration of the Marula Festival, which will start on
Friday February 21, 2025 and end on Sunday February 23, 2025. She said members
of the Lutsango Regiment are expected to present their Marula brew before Her
Majesty the Queen Mother on Friday at the Royal residence. She said this will be
followed by main festivities, which include singing and dancing before Their
Majesties and their guests. After that, she said on Sunday, the King will then
disperse the members of the Lutsango Regiment, which will mark the end of the
first leg of the festival, which is also known as the ‘first fruit’ which
comes after the annual Incwala ceremony.
Scores
It is worth noting that the Marula Ceremony is usually attended by scores of
emaSwati and they join members of the Royal family and emabutfo (regiments). The
festival also attracts tourists from the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and abroad. On top of that, culturally the festival is viewed as one of
the traditional ceremonies that unite the nation in various ways; through
values, tradition and respect, among others.