IMBALI SINGS THROUGH FREEZING CONDITIONS

NHLANGANO – In temperatures below nine degrees Celsius, with chilly drizzle and wind, thousands of Imbali filled Mbangweni Royal Residence with cheerful songs.

This was yesterday afternoon, when Imbali arrived for the second leg of the Reed Dance Ceremony at Mbangweni Royal Residence in Nhlangano. Nearly every bus that arrived to drop off the maidens had one song being sung by Imbali – “kukhala emadvodza” (men are weeping). This seemed to be the song that maidens were singing in most of the buses and trucks as they were being dropped off.

Reeds

Imbali arrived in the vehicles carrying reeds from various chiefdoms. His Majesty the King announced the dates of the Reed Dance Ceremony through Princess Sakhizwe, Inkhosatana yeMbali. The buses began to arrive at around 1pm and were still delivering Imbali at around 5pm. As the Imbali arrived, it was as if they had all communicated that upon arrival, they would sing the same song. The lyrics of the song are, ‘kuyenzeka! la sichamuka khona, hlala kukhala emadvodza nge buhle be mbali’, which loosely translates, ‘It is happening, where we are coming from, our beauty makes men cry’. However, most of the maidens who were asked to explain the meaning of the song failed to do so but responded with giggles.

Maidens

They said they only learnt the song recently during the reed dance at Lobamba. However, one bold maiden said, “It is just a fun song which means, ‘just with our beauty, we make the men cry’.” Some of the members of the public, particularly outside the arena where the vehicles were dropping off the maidens, quizzed why every group of the girls seemed to be singing the song. “What is the significance of the song”, a man who was displaying wares asked. The maidens also sang other songs such as the famous ‘Halala, Halala, ngicela ningiboniseni’ which was a hit during the Umhlanga Ceremony at Lobamba. Another song which was also a hit is ‘Siwelele la sawelela le’. The maidens are expected to deliver the reed today at the royal residence.

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