Reed Dance promotes culture
Kwatsaduza - About 87 young women and girls from Kwatsaduza attended this year's Reed Dance ceremony in Swaziland.
The annual ceremony, called Umhlanga, took place in Swaziland from August 25 to August 31, where more than 7 000 girls gathered to undergo virginity testing.
The event was held at Ludzidzini royal village.
According to the Umphakathi WamaSwati chairman in Ekurhuleni, Jabulani Nkosi, the aim of the annual ceremony is to preserve chastity, and also allows Swaziland’s King Mswati III to choose a wife if he wishes.
Nkosi says the young women and girls are tasked with collecting the tallest reed to show their purity and pride.
“The event is one that needs to be preserved for years to come as it promotes good practice in society,” said Nkosi.
He appealed to parents to ensure they teach their daughters about the importance of having self-respect and the importance of remaining virgins until they marry.
