Photos from Our World

The uMhlanga or Reed Dance in Swaziland

Swazi girls collect reeds in the country and walk, singing and dancing as they go along, to the Queen Mother's residence in Lobamba where these reeds will be used to repair the windbreaks around the traditional grass huts in her residence. On the main day, usually in early September, the girls prepare themselves in their traditional finery, the short "indlamu" skirts, "ligcebesha" necklaces and colourful "umgaco" sashes worn across the body, The girls then come together with their reed bundles and, at led by the "bantfwabenkosi", the King's daughters, they march, singing and dancing, to the place where they deposit those bundles.

Afterwards there is a big dance, where all girls dance, swinging large knives, symbols of their virginity, in rows, singing and blowing whistles to the beat of the songs, a truly spectacular sight. The dance is in front of the King who, according to tradition, may choose one of the girls to be his new wife. A privilege in the old days, it is less welcomed nowadays as it means effectively the end of whatever ambitions the girl could have. Polygamy is still practiced in Swaziland by those who can afford the "lobolo", bride price, paid to the girl's family.

	Bringing reed	Getting ready	Girls marching	Girls with reeds
	Ready to march	Bringing reedbundles	Princesses with reed	Marching with reed
	Carrying reed	Girls dancing	uMhlanga dance	Small girls dancing

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