Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

THE FOMO OF NOT EXPERIENCING UMHLANGA

By Sibongile Sukati | 2024-09-13

IT’S been a minute given that I did not write last week because we had a holiday, which was the Reed Dance.

One of the reasons I love Eswatini mostly is because when it is holiday season, it really is holiday galore. It’s a pity we will not be having the next one until December 25, depending on when Incwala holiday is. Not that we do not like work, but people are just generally tired, particularly mentally.

Anyway, today I want to talk about the Umhlanga Reed Dance because the number of the maidens was just spectacular. For some reason though, government in particular the ministry of home affairs, is sceptical on giving us the right number of the girls who attend this annual ceremony, but I read on the ministry’s Facebook page that the number of the Imbali Regiment was over 80 000.

It is a good enough number and I personally think they were more. The reason the ministry did not give us a specific number was because the numbers were added on a daily basis or so they said.

Anyway, I am not sure why I have never attended the Reed Dance as an Ingabisa back them. Well, it could be that my family was also not too keen on it and I do not remember my sister having attended it either.

Maybe in the past we did have the mentality that we were cheese girls who lived in Dalriach and probably thought we were too posh for it. Actually, I do not even think I’ve ever adorned Indlamu, interestingly I love traditional attire though and certainly love my African print dresses.

There was something about this year’s Umhlanga ceremony, which I felt I had missed out as a youth. I was quite intrigued by how young the children who attended it were.

There was one who was even two years old, although she did not walk for a long distance she was very excited about being present as she sucked away her ice block. I was, however, even more impressed by the girls who braved the very cold weather temperatures, but proceeded to cut the reed when they were as low as eight degrees celsius.

Proceeding I followed the proceeding on Eswatini TV and the girls were just a marvel to watch, with all those who were interviewed stating that the cold temps were the least of their worries. The girls were all comfortable in the sneakers that were presented to them, by Their Majesties.

Personally I would have liked to have a pair, phoke ngimdzala despite that my shoe size ranges between three and four.

I like that the girls were so united and from what I saw they were well-behaved. There was no pushing and shoving when they received their food gifts unlike us adults who behave like ‘wild animals’ when it is time to eat, a recent memory is that of Sibaya.

It is clear that the Tindvuna and chiefs really did their homework and educated the girls on how to behave throughout the whole ceremony. In the past, one would normally see the maidens going off track and attending events like the Rally and Trade Fair.

However, until they were dispersed last week Tuesday, we did not hear on any negative reports about their behaviour. Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta reported that the Umhlanga Reed Dance visitor numbers were up by 25.1 per cent when compared to the previous year.

It was reported that over 32 000 travellers visited Eswatini over the four-day period from August 29and the week approached the main day on Umhlanga which was on September 2.

I read somewhere that the positive impacts of the Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony was increased revenue, as more visitors translated to increased spending on accommodation, food, transport and souvenirs.

However, one can only hope that the girls go to the Reed Dance to know about what the event means which is basically the preservation of culture and authenticity of the ceremony.

One cannot deny that some of the girls, due to poverty, attend the event to at least put something in their tummies given some of the statistics which we have in the country. However, the joy on their faces was a clear sign that they were just in awe of everything happening around them.

Joy The joy on their faces was especially undeniable when King Mswati III and his guest, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini appreciated the maidens by doing the kudlalisela. Some of the girls would even forget to dance as they watched in awe at the King being so close to them.

However, in my opinion the Ludzidzini Royal Residence getting too small to not only accommodate the girls, but the visitors who also attend the event. Not attending the Reed Dance as a young girl is clearly one of the biggest regrets I have and with no baby girl coming my way, I guess I will never know the feeling.

I look forward to the buganu festival though so I experience at least one of these cultural events.

share story