Maidens thrilled as His Majesty the King appreciates them

MBANGWENI – Imbali was overjoyed when His Majesty King Mswati III appreciated her during the ongoing annual Umhlanga Ceremony at Mbangweni Royal Residence.

The appreciation of the maidens is part of the cultural ceremony, which encourages them to preserve their virginity and gives them an opportunity to showcase their chastity before Their Majesties and the world.

During the appreciation, the King moved around the dance formation, allowing the maidens to see him at close range.

His movement through the formation was met with excitement from the maidens, with some taking the opportunity to capture pictures of the King at close range.

The audience also screamed with excitement as they watched the King appreciating the maidens.

The ongoing ceremony is at its final stage at Mbangweni Royal Residence, where the maidens are preparing for the main day of the event.

The audience was also given a glimpse of what the maidens will present on the main day of the Umhlanga Ceremony..

Bright sunshine boosts vendors’ trade at Mbangweni

MBANGWENI – Vendors at the Mbangweni Royal Residence recorded brisk business as maidens gathered for the Umhlanga (Reed Dance) Ceremony under sunny and warm weather.

Among those making the most of the event was Anthony Mashaba from Matsapha, who returned for the second consecutive year to sell traditional sandals that he manufactures himself.

Mashaba, who normally operates his business at the Manzini rank, said the sandals were popular among maidens attending the ceremony.

These handmade sandals are perfect for wearing alongside traditional imvunulo attire during Umhlanga,” Mashaba said. He said he sold the sandals for E70 a pair and received strong support from the maidens.

Also among the vendors was Hlengiwe Mngometulu from Ngwabi, who normally operates from the SEDCO estate.

Mngometulu was selling a variety of traditional attire, including imihelwane, emagcebesha and emacakala.

“I am so grateful to the Imbali Regiment for coming out in such large numbers to support us, even though many vendors are selling traditional wear,” she said.

Mngometulu said the warm weather had contributed positively to business, particularly when compared with the previous year.

“The bright, warm sunshine has been a huge blessing compared to last year’s cold weather, causing business to boom,” she said.

For first-time vendor Pamela Mhlungu from Zombodze Emuva, the hot weather presented an opportunity to sell refreshments.

Mhlungu said she was inspired by the temperatures to make ice blocks for the maidens.

“I was inspired by the hot weather to make ice blocks to cool down the maidens,” she said.

She sold the ice blocks for E2 each and said she had made a steady profit since Friday.

Msebenzi Nsibande from Ngwane Park, the owner of S&A Candy Corner and Fun Times, was also benefiting from the warm conditions.

Nsibande said the business had recorded strong sales of ice cream and slush during the event.

“The weather has been completely on our side, allowing us to sell plenty of ice cream and slush,” Nsibande said.

She thanked the maidens for their continued support throughout the ceremony.

The event also provided an opportunity for mobile financial service providers to promote their services.

Kayise Dlamini, representing Eswatini Mobile from Nhlangano, was at the event registering maidens and visitors for the e-Mali mobile money platform. “We are encouraging everyone to register for e-Mali so their money remains safe and secure from scammers,” Dlamini said.

She said Eswatini Mobile was also registering local vendors as e-Mali agents, allowing them to facilitate deposits and withdrawals while earning commissions.

Imbali delivers reeds at Mbangweni

MBANGWENI – Thousands of maidens from the Imbali Regiment yesterday delivered the traditional cut reeds before Their Majesties at Mbangweni Royal Residence.

Opening the proceedings, the maidens performed kuhlehla before Her Majesty the Indlovukazi and the Emakhosikati. Indvuna yeMbaliBongiwe Hlatjwako was the first to deliver the reed, followed by Inkhosatana yeMbali Princess Sakhizwe.

His Majesty King Mswati III was also formally informed that Imbali from KwaZulu-Natal had attended the Umhlanga Ceremony.

Proceeding to perform kuhlehla before the Royal Kingship, Inkhosatana yeMbaliPrincess Sakhizwe led the procession, accompanied by Indvuna yeMbaliBongiwe Vivane, Inkhosikati LaZuma and other royal princesses. Joining the main regiment in the arena were specialised Imbali contingents from the security forces, including the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, the Royal Eswatini Police Service, His Majesty’s Correctional Services and the Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services.

Emakhosatana, Bantfwabenkhosi and Imbali at large also joined the proceedings. Upon entering the main arena, Indvuna yeMbaliHlatjwako led the singing of “Lenkhosi Mswati lenidlala ngayo munikeni lelihawu lakhe”. His Majesty then performed kudlalisela Imbali in the arena, where the maidens were able to see him at close proximity.

Indvuna yeMbali Bongiwe Hlatjwako later led the regiment in another song: ‘Kantsi yini sono sentfombatane yini sono semuntfu lomsikati kutawuphela nini kubulawa nini kubulawa kwebantfu besifazane tsine siyimbali singumliba loya embili.’

The song was in line with the slogan, ‘Siyimbali yemaSwati sichakazile sitokuncoba kuhlukubeteka’.

Imbali from KwaZulu-Natal also performed “Nkonyane kaNdaba” and ‘Kwanyaz’umkhonto wenkonyane kaNdaba’.

The ceremony continued with ummiso to the song ‘Mswati uyinkhosi yelive yabekwa’, with Their Majesties and members of the public joining in the dancing. The afternoon proceedings concluded with kugiya.

The indvuna yeMbali performed her kugiya to the chant ‘Sawubona salukazana sawubona gogo’. She was followed by Princess Buhlebetive, who performed kugiya to her song ‘Giya Zinyane’, featuring Young Zesh.

Inkhosatana yembali Princess Sakhizwe then performed kugiya to the song ‘Ilukhuni lendzaba’.