Photos from Our World

The iNcwala or First Fruits Ceremony in Swaziland (part 4)

At the start of the iNcwala rituals, groups of men had set out for tthe different rivers in Swaziland and also for the coast in Mozambique to collect water that would be used in the rituals involving the King on the main day of the ceremony. These men, called "bemanti" (people of the water) could be seen walking back to Lobamba.

Early in the morning on the Main Day the King performs rituals in the enclosure and at its climax eats of the First Fruits. That day almost the whole nation comes to the Royal capital of Lobamba where in the huge "sibaya" or cattle enclosure the ceremonies are held. People will now be dressed in full iNcwala costume, which includes, for the men, a "sikhetja", a kind of cape made from horse hair. The "emabutfo" or traditional Swazi regiments march in, singing as they go. In Lobamba there are various enclosures of different regiments or age-grade groups, each with traditional grass beehive huts, where they can stay. The Regiment of His Majesty King Sobhuza II was the Balondolozi regiment, the most senior; the next in seniority (age grade) was the Emasotsha regiment. The men are getting ready, some donning headdresses of black feathers of the "sakabula" bird.

After a "reveille" blown on a trumpet or cornet (in the old days a conch shell) the regiments enter the "sibaya" and start their stately dances, accompanied by singing the ancient songs, the warriors dancing slowly, each holding a "sakila" or knobkerie fighting stick or "lizeze", battle axe and their "lihawu", large shield. The King's sons are only distinguished by the red feathers they are allowed to wear in their hair. The "batfwabenkosi", ("children of the King") or Princesses enter, the unmarried girls dressed in "indlamu", a short skirt decorated with beads and they dance in a line opposite the warriors. Then the King himselves arrives, accompanied by other members of the "Balondolozi" regiment and takes his place among the other regiments and joins in the dance....

Continuing....

	The "bemanti"	Swazi couple	Stick fight	Boy with "sikhetja"
	Marching warriors	Old warrior	Preparing for iNcwala	iNcwala headdress
	EmaSotsha regiment	iNcwala dance	Princesses dancing	King's entrance

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