The Swazi Reed Dance

The reed dance is a spectacular annual event which has attracted thousands of tourists to the Kingdom of Swaziland . Performing at the reed dance ceremony are thousands of Swazi maidens in their traditional attire. These Swazi girls come from all around the country and gather for the ceremony which lasts for about eight days. The Umhlanga Reed Dance takes place towards the end of the month of August, when the seasons are changing and the reed is matured and ready for harvest. This event presents the maidens with an opportunity to honor the Queen Mother. Only childless, unmarried girls can take part in this exciting event.

The dates of the umhlanga reed dance are set according to the moon's cycle and are never determined on the calendar; the exact dates of the event are announced over the radio by the maidens' captain (indvuna yetintfombi ), who is appointed by Royalty. She is appointed on the basis of being an expert dancer and being knowledgeable on royal protocol. She is expected to lead the girls with one of the princesses as her counterpart when they set off to cut the reed on the first day.

The aims of the ceremony are to:

(1) Preserve girls' virginity: This tradition is aimed at encouraging young Swazi women to abstain from sexual activities and preserve their virginity until they are matured enough to get married. This means that only Swazi virgins should take part in the much celebrated event. (2) Provide tribute labor for the Queen mother : The reeds cut by the girls are submitted back at the main Royal household, where they are used as wind breakers for the Queen mothers hut and (3) Promote a spirit of oneness and solidarity among the girls by working together.

Day 1: The Swazi girls gather at their various chiefdoms where they are given a word of advice by their community elders. About four men are appointed by each chief to accompany the girls. These supervisors are tasked to safeguard the girls throughout the event. Incase anything happens; the girls are to report to the supervisors who then take the matter to the responsible authorities. From their chiefdoms the girls converge at the main Royal household, where the Queen Mother resides called Ludzidzini. Trucks are used to ferry the girls from their communities to Ludzidzini. They come in groups of 200 and above and upon arrival, are registered for security reasons. They sleep in the huts of relatives in the royal villages or in the classrooms of the four nearby schools.

Day 2: From Ludzidzini the girls walk to Engabezweni, another palace where the girls meet the King who blesses them for the long journey they are about to embark on. They are then separated into two groups, the older (about 14 to 22 years) and the younger (about 8 to 13 years) who then take different routes to the selected destinations for cutting the reed.

The older group goes to Mphisi farm which is very far, and because of the distances government trucks are used to ferry the girls. The younger group goes to Masundvwini. In the afternoon, they march, in their local groups, to the reed-beds, with their supervisors. On their way to their destination, the girls sing, chat and share each other's experiences, which makes the journey seem shorter. The girls reach the vicinity of the reeds in darkness. Upon arriving at their destinations they sleep in government provided tents and marquees.

Day 3: The Swazi girls cut the reeds, and tie them in bundles. There's a long-held belief that the bundle must add up not to an even number but an odd number because the even number curses the royal family. Having cut the reeds the girls have the whole day to rest for their return the next day.

Day 4:

In the afternoon the girls set off to return to the Queen Mother's household, carrying their bundles of reeds. Again they are transported to Engabezweni by trucks where both groups meet then take their long walk to the royal kraal by night. This is done "to show they traveled a long way".

Day 5: This is a day of rest where the girls are free to do their own things, like going to town and mixing around. By the end of the day they must have made final preparations to their hair and dancing costumes.

Day 6: This is the day when the girls drop their reeds outside the Queen Mothers quarters. They move to the arena in a train form and dance keeping in their groups and each group singing different songs at the same time.

Day 7: This is the main day of the event which attracts thousands of spectators from all over the world. This is the day of dancing. The girls come in their traditional gear led by the leader and the princesses to the grounds where they are to appear before the King and the Queen mother. They dance all afternoon in their groups. On this day the king delivers a speech addressing his subjects on wide ranging issues like HIV/AIDS and so do other known personalities of the country depending on who is featured on the programme.

Day 8: This day marks the end of the ceremony. The King commands that a number of cattle be slaughtered for girls. They collect their pieces of meat and can go home afterwards.

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Swaziland reed dance articles