GET READY FOR ESWATINI UMHLANGA (Reed Dance) CEREMONY 2022

Eswatini Daily News
By : EDN Reporter

The Kingdom of Eswatini’s best known cultural event, Umhlanga Reed Dance is back and open to all EmaSwati to attend.

His Majesty King Mswati III has declared that this year Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony will take place from 30 August 2022 to 05 September 2022. The announcement was through Indvuna yetimbali, Nonduduzo Zibuko.

Reed Dance Timeline:
30/08/2022: First day of registration.
31/08/2022: Maidens set out to various centers to cut the reed.
01/09/2022: Maidens cut reed.
02/09/2022: Maidens return to the Royal Kraal.
03/09/2022: Maidens take a break.
04/09/2022: Maidens deliver the Reeds before their Majesties.
05/09/2022: Umhlanga Reed Dance main day.

The eight-day ceremony, young girls cut reeds, present them to the Queen Mother (Indlovukazi) – ostensibly to repair the windbreak around The Royal Residence and then dance in celebration. This symbolizes unity in the tiny kingdom and yielding tonnes amount of positivity on maidens such as implanting discipline, character, and sex education in the life of the Swazi girls.

Imbali’s comment on the announcement, “over the past two years as someone who attends and values the Swazi culture. I felt like the value placed on girls purity was being stripped off or robbed from us by the pandemic not Royalty, because they also had no control over the covid-19 situation that has dawned on us not only nationally but at an international scale. The announcement that the commemoration of the event is open to all EmaSwati this year is exciting news, which means our confidence is being restored for holding on to purity status nationally.”