King showers Imbali with gifts
By Bongekile Ngcamphalala
(Intern)
His Majesty King Mswati III on Wednesday showered the Imbali with thoughtful gifts during the second day of the annual Umhlanga Reed Dance, where they were commissioned to cut reed at Engabezweni Royal Residence.
The gifts, which included a backpack, an Imbali Foundation-branded T-shirt, half a loaf of bread, and a 500ml Kingsley flavoured drink, were warmly received by the maidens after they had completed their march from the Ludzidzini Royal Residence to Engabezweni.
The Imbali expressed heartfelt gratitude to Their Majesties for the generous gesture, emphasising that the tokens of love strengthened their resolve to continue participating in the upcoming events of the ceremony.
One of the maidens, visibly moved, shared how the gift would directly impact her schooling.
“I will use my backpack at school since the one I was using is torn. I could not afford a new bag, so this means so much to me,” she said.
Another maiden from the Fire and Emergency Services highlighted the spirit of sharing inspired by the gifts.
“I will give the bag to my younger sister and the T-shirt to my disabled sister who could not make it to Umhlanga,” she explained.
In addition to the King’s gifts, the Deputy Prime Minister, Thulisile Dladla, also presented the maidens with essential toiletries. These included sanitary pads, body lotion, roll-on deodorant, and body spray.
Addressing the Imbali, Dladla took the opportunity to educate the young girls on the importance of personal care and maintaining good hygiene.
“It would be so sad to see young girls at your age getting sick because of poor hygiene and laziness to take care of yourselves,” she stressed.
Her words echoed a broader message of empowerment and responsibility, reinforcing the cultural celebration’s significance not only as a showcase of purity and tradition but also as a platform for nurturing the maidens’ well-being.
The ceremony continues to draw thousands of maidens from across Eswatini and beyond, underscoring the enduring cultural pride and unity embodied in Umhlanga.
As the week unfolds, the Imbali look forward with excitement to further blessings and moments of cultural celebration under the guidance of Their Majesties.
