MBABANE – The Umhlanga Reed Dance is known for its cultural splendour, its vibrant celebration of tradition and its unifying spirit.
However, this year’s ceremony will be remembered for far more than the colourful regalia, spirited song and lively dance, it will be remembered as the moment King Misuzulu KaZwelithini publicly engaged Liphovela Undlunkulu LaMdluli in a spectacle of tradition and romance.
This was the cherry on top of what was a beautiful display of culture as the annual Umhlanga Reed Dance Ceremony entered day seven.
Thousands of maidens from across Eswatini and beyond descended on the royal grounds for this year’s Umhlanga. According to co-ordinator and master of ceremonies, Wendy Hleta, there was an even greater enthusiasm than before, with 2 634 maidens travelling from as far as KwaZulu-Natal’s eDumbe, Mpumalanga’s Nelspruit and Gauteng’s Witbank and Middelburg. Their arrival, alongside delegations from across the continent, including Ghana, Botswana, Limpopo and the Ndebele nation turned the ceremony into a truly regional showcase.
Also amid the array of dignitaries was 54 chiefs and traditional leaders from throughout the African continent who came to witness the Umhlanga Ceremony after having taken part in the regional traditional leaders conference.
To demonstrate commitment to the Reed Dance, the maidens were said to have gathered in their thousands, camping along riverbanks and delivering strong, healthy reeds.
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