By Bahle Gama
As part of the ongoing annual Incwala Ceremony, Lacwebetelako have been weeding Royal Fields and today they will be proceeding to Imfabantfu, which is the main field.
Weeding Imfabantfu indicates the end of the ceremony in which His Majesty King Mswati III will disperse libutfo back to the respective chiefdoms.
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This year libutfo weeded Ngonini and Majumba Royal fields. Inyatsi and ingaja went to Majumba, whilst Inkhanyeti went to Ngonini.
His Majesty issued the order to commission libutfo to weed Royal Fields after the dancing of Incwala, which started with the burning of the log (kushisa lukhuni) inside the Ludzidzini Cattle Brye.
The Incwala ceremony which began on December 1, 2024, building up to the main day that was on December 18, 2024, was attended by thousands of emaSwati including members of the Royal family, Lutsango, Imbali, warriors, and security forces.
The commissioning of Ingaja always comes after the completion of the little Incwala that begins at Ludzidzini Royal Residence, then proceeds to the other residences, and concludes at Buhleni Royal Residence.
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The norm is that The King commissions Ingaja from the Hhohho and other regions of the country to assembly at Engabezweni Royal Residence in readiness for fetching the sacred shrubs.
His Majesty and emabutfo then accompanied Ingatja by foot where they fetched the shrubs at moonrise.
From there Ingatja traveled to Ludzidzini Royal Residence to deliver lusekwane inside the cattle brye.
Other fields normally weeded by the warriors include Nyangantathu, Majumba, and Mazibeke Royal fields.
The dispersal of regiments after weeding is significant to the lives of emaSwati as it determines the fetching of material such as lukhwane, inchoboza, and lutindzi.
