United In Diversity

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2014-09-12

The annual Reed Dance took place this weekend. More than 40 000 maidens took part in the 30th 'Umkhosi woMhlanga', or as it is more popularly known, the reed danceceremony, which took place at theRoyal Nkoyeni Palacein Nongoma last Saturday.

At the celebration King Goodwill Zwelithini addressed issues such as last year's bus accident, which saw nine maidens and two guardians killed near eShowe, his land claim and the upgrading of the facilities at the Nkoyeni Palace. King Goodwill Zwelithini made an impassioned plea to the international community to invest in growing the Zulu Reed Dance and promoting it globally as a cultural event.

Speaking in front of thousands of gathered maidens and dignitaries, he said the ceremony could be part of the government's rural development plan. Zwelithini asked that they "reflect and share" what they had seen when they went home.

He remarked on how the Reed Dance was part of the fight against HIV and Aids. The ceremony was a proven solution to HIV and Aids, although he knew little about the disease when he revived the event. He told the maidens that, despite efforts to fight the disease, the war was far from over.

The Reed Dance is one of the most adored and respected dances in South Africa. The Zulus consider it an important event. The maidens wear traditional attire, which includes beadwork bracelets, necklaces and coloured sashes. To Thembi (14) and her school friend Zama (15) being a virgin is something they are proud of. Thembi and Zama are both from Illovo and they are part of the group of schoolgirls who journeyed together by bus the previous morning.

They were still beaming from the experience, "Its really cool to be here." Zama told The Bugle, "I am very proud to be a virgin and so is my family." When I asked if they want to be the future bride of the King, they giggle and say, "Of course."

They were both self-confident and smiling their approach to this weekend was both fun and adventurous. It was their first time but they vowed to be back next year.

Thembi told me that the reason she was attending the festival was to both celebrate her own purity and also to be an example to other girls that they can live as young women without having early sex.

'Umkhosi woMhlanga' promotes respect for women and virginity before marriage. In addition, the Reed Dance is also a lively celebratory occasion which shows-off the cultural heritage of the Zulu kingdom.

The festival gets its name from the reeds which grow in a nearby riverbed and which are carried in a procession by the young Zulu women - invited to the King's palace after passing a virginity test.

Who decides the relevance of people's cultures and beliefs? Culture and tradition will always be relevant to the people who have practiced it for generations! Hail King Goodwill Zwelithini!

Caps: Young women make their way to the king's palace at the start of the festival.

The ceremony, which is a centuries-old tradition, takes place in September, right at the start of spring, at the eNyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal.

The maidens each carry a reed, which they will place before King Goodwill Zwelithini. This year's event started on Friday, and the king had asked the department of basic education to allow the maidens to take a day off from school. Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Inkhata Freedom Party leader, encouraged young maidens to be part of the proceedings.

King Goodwill Zwelithini's wives watch the historic event as it unfolds before their eyes. The king may select a maiden to be his next wife.

The festival promotes the respect of young women and the reeds symbolise their virginity. Many travel from other chiefdoms to attend the event.

21-year-old Princess Nqobangothando leads the procession on Saturday, the second day of festivities.

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