BUGANU FESTIVAL: ‘GET PERMISSION FROM HUSBANDS’

MBABANE – Lutsango council has urged its members to seek permission from their husbands before attending the upcoming Marula Festival.

The event has been scheduled for this weekend, from Friday at Buhleni Royal Residence. Speaking on national radio programme ‘Iyatfutfuka imiphakatsi’ Joyce Vilane and Indvuna Velabahleke Masuku, who form part of the council, said Lutsango should not deprive their husbands of respect in the name of the cultural event.

Married

The duo defined Lutsango as any woman married or not, who had given birth to a child. However, they stated that the status of Lutsango was defined by the traditional attire they donned, which gave the idea of whether they were married or not. They said married Lutsango did not don the same tradition attire as unmarried women. For example, the duo mentioned that married women donned sidziya made out of goat skin, with sidvwaba while unmarried women’s attire was complete without the goat skin. They stated that the traditional attire was crucial in the sense that it helped emaSwati to accord married women respect during cultural activities.  

“Culture goes with respect, so women are expected to seek permission from their husbands before leaving for the event. Widowed women are urged to seek permission from their families and inform their children before leaving. They should not just pack up and leave without permission or informing their families,” said Masuku.

She also touched on expected conduct of Lutsango during the course of the upcoming event. She warned Lutsango against excessive drinking before the delivery of the marula brew. Masuku said it was embarrassing to see Lutsango moving from side to side with marula containers before Their Majesties.

She also warned members of Lutsango against conducting themselves as Imbali. She made an example of some kind of dances such as ingadla, which she said was not expected from Lutsango. Ingadla is a kind of dance that requires a person to lift her leg.

Imbibing

Masuku reminded the nation that the event was not just about imbibing marula but was aimed at affording women an opportunity to share life skills. She said women also had the opportunity to sell their products such as oil, petroleum jelly, butter and buns, among other products made out of the marula.

Health motivators from the Ministry of Health assured Lutsango that they would be present to provide counselling during the course of the event.The health motivators stated that they would be focusing on depression, which had appeared to be common among most women. The health motivators encouraged Lutsango and vendors to ensure hygiene as they conducted their businesses.   

 

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: