Swazis showcase culture at Bushfire festival
Mpho Tlale | Friday June 6, 2014 16:33
The festival is hosted every last week of May and this year it was held from May 30 to June 1.
One thing, which stands out about the people of Swaziland is the kindness they show visitors, despite the cultural differences. The Swazis are down to earth, respectful and very peaceful.
As hosts in their country, they took it upon themselves to share their culture with the visitors. Swaziland is one African country that still values tradition as evidenced amongst others by being the only absolute Monarch on the continent.
Much emphasis has always been on the females, exposing their breasts. This year, however, the women took a back seat and the men dominated the scene with their cultural outfits.
This year the men took the front seat, singing, dancing and waving their sticks in the air, while the women rested in the Swazi huts called quca.
Swaziland National Trust Commission representative Titi Nkumane explained that quca in English means to kneel. She said the structure was influenced by the wars in the olden days and the huts were built that way for protection.
Nkumane explained that the only way one can get into the house is if they kneel and go in head first, adding that this allowed the one inside the quca to hit the enemy on the head and save themselves from any danger coming their way.
She added that as part of their job they have to make sure that people are exposed to their culture while in Swaziland hence the decision to showcase the huts at the festival.
An elder, Liwonkhe Mngomezulu, took over from Nkumane and explained further that within the homestead there was a main hut that belonged to the grandmother. This would be the house at which issues or squabbles within the family were settled. He explained that the main hut was respected, adding that there was believed to be a sacred place for the spirits of the forefathers.
Mngomezulu pointed out that they built the qucas so that people could appreciate the significance of the houses in their culture.
He pointed out to the young men who were dancing in front of the huts and explained that they are a regiment (umbotho).
He expressed that their dance moves are still relevant in their culture as they are done every year when the young men go out to weed the king’s fields. He explained the songs that accompany the dances are composed on the spot based on the environment and what is going on at that time.
In addition the elderly man explained that sticks always accompany the dances. The logic behind the sticks is that they are there to enforce rhythm and they have to go with the feet for a heartier dance.
Furthermore, the old man said that part of the outfits include feathers that are used for decorative purposes.
He, however, emphasised that there are some feathers that are restricted to the royal family such as those of a Lorie bird.
Another part of the outfit is the loin skin, and the neck skins called the simohlwana. He said these are not supposed to be worn by just anyone as it is identifying attire for members of a regiment. Mngomezulu said these neck skins are like a ring and they signify that one will defend the king if ever the situation arose. He was quick to clarify that everything that the young men do as a part of their culture is voluntary, and that they are not forced to do it. He says that one has to have passion for that and that is all it takes.