Umhlanga - not a strip show for the King

THALEFANG CHARLES
Correspondent | Friday September 3, 2010 00:00

To most visiting public the Umhlanga ceremony is where the 'virgins parade in front of the king' so that he can choose one to be his wife.  In 2008 Reuters carried headline; Bare-breasted virgins compete for Swaziland king reporting on the event.

The event that attracted multitudes of tourists including foreign media around the world to the kingdom of Swaziland was held last week in Ludzidzini royal residence between Mbabane and Manzini.  Foreigners at the event were expecting to see King Mswati III pick wife number 14.  So when is he choosing the wife, was a question from one German visitor.  Another Asian photographer also told this writer that he expects the King would choose on the last day. Some of the visiting COMESA delegates from African countries were also expecting to see Mswati pick one from the 60 000 virgins that paraded before him.

Quizzed on the process Myxo Dlamini of Myxos Backpackers explained that Umhlanga is a truly African tradition to help the Queen Mother.  It is similar to a ceremony practised in most African countries where the community comes to help the elder with household chores like thatching, weeding or harvesting said Dlamini.  He said that Umhlanga is only different because, instead of the whole community helping a royal elder, the Queen Mother, in Swazi tradition only virgins are believed to be pure for the task.  Then as thousands of women gather at Her Majesty's residence, it is only normal that any man may find one of them interesting.  So the King would then use the opportunity to find a new fiance explained Myxo.  He went on to say that it is not only for the King to propose the girls.  Even you could go there and try your luck challenged Myxo.  The King is also not restricted to wait for Umhlanga to propose for another fiancee.  Myxo said one of his wives caught Mswati's eye at a beauty contest and the nation was told of the affair during Umhlanga.

On Day five of the event at Lobamba just outside the Ludzidzini royal residence where thousands of girls were camping young men could be seen 'trying their luck' on the virgins.  The maidens' virginity becomes a bargaining power during the marriage process.  One of the participating girls revealed that virginity would bring a lot of cattle to her family.  In Swazi culture the virgin bride is worth more and the groom's family would be asked for a substantial number of cattle.

Fresh from a royal sex scandal involving his youngest wife and government minister, Mswati did not reveal any new fiance in this year's ceremony.  The king, who lives in luxurious splash with all his wives chauffeured in top of the range BMW X5 together with undisclosed number of children is revered in the kingdom and local media is barred from reporting about royal scandals. 

The Swaziland officials who visibly appeared uneasy fielding questions about the royal family were adamant that the Umhlanga ceremony is not a strip show.  Officials said another fundamental mission for the Reed dance is to promote the abstinence campaign among young women, in a small southern African kingdom ravaged by AIDS and poverty.