Kwatsaduza girls from the reed dance
About 150 girls from Kwatsaduza were part of thousands of girls who took Umhlanga to the royal village in Swaziland.
One of the oldest traditions is checking girls for their virginity and is embraced by many cultures especially by Zulu and Swazi cultures.
The annual reed dance, Umhlanga, took place in Swaziland from August 27 to September 1, where more than 7 000 girls gathered to be tested for their virginity.
According to Umphakathi WamaSwati chairman in Ekurhuleni, Jabulani Nkosi the aim of the annual ceremony is to preserve the women’s chastity, in some instances, it is also a chance for the king to choose a wife.
He says the women and girls are tasked with collecting the highest reed to show their purity and pride.
“The event is one that needs to be preserved for years to come, as it promotes a good practice in society,” said Nkosi.
Adding that the parents are very proud of the girls after they have proved that they have carried themselves well and remained virgins despite the peer pressure that they get from their communities.
Nkosi then appealed to parents to ensure that they teach their girls about the importance of having self-respect and keeping their virginity until the day that they get married.
“We need to teach our girls from the age of four years to be proud of who they are and show them the benefits of staying a virgin,” concluded Nkosi.
