The Umhlanga (Reed Dance) is a traditional dance where twenty to thirty thousand of Swaziland's maidens congregate and dance for the king (currently Mswati III). The young women, aged between about fourteen and twenty, wear beads, short skirts and long tassels which denote their betrothenhood, and many are bare-breasted. The maidens are supposed to be virgins, but in practice many are simply young, unmarried women without children. Mswati III (born Makhosetive on April 19, 1968) is the king of Swaziland. ... A bead is a small, decorative object that is pierced for threading or stringing. ... See also: Hilt (band) and Peter Hilt The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. ...

Girls taking part on the Reed Dance

The king is allowed to pick one of the maidens to be his bride. On September 6, 2004, he chose a sixteen year old reed dance participant and finalist from Miss Teenage Swaziland as a fiancée, to join his eleven wives and one other fiancée. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x669, 193 KB) Summary Issa Michuzi http://issamichuzi. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x669, 193 KB) Summary Issa Michuzi http://issamichuzi. ... This article is about the day of the year. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in...

The girls do not gather to dance specifically for the king. The main purpose of the festival is to cut reeds for the Queen Mother's homestead. It is on the last day of the celebration they dance for the Queen, this is when the king joins in viewing the dancers, and selects his bride.

Zululand

King Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu, whose Zulu traditions are not far removed from those of Swaziland, revived the Reed Dance tradition in neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal, held annually at his Enyokeni Palace at Nongoma. The girls must pass a virginity test to attend. The King uses this occasion to address his subjects on wide-ranging issues, recently on AIDS. Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu (b. ... The Zulu are an African ethnic group of about 11 million people who live mainly in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... KwaZulu-Natal (often referred to as KZN) is a province of South Africa. ... Nongoma, is surrounded by the Ngome Forest in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ... In Roman times, Vestal Virgins were strictly celibate or they were punished by death. ... The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (or acronym AIDS), is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with the...

Other meanings

Umhlanga is the Zulu and Swazi name for the Common Reed, Phragmites australis. It is commonly used for walls and thatching of traditional houses in the Maputaland area of South Africa. The Zulu are an African ethnic group of about 11 million people who live mainly in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... Binomial name Phragmites australis (Cav. ...

Umhlanga or Umhlanga Rocks is a coastal town that is now part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality that also includes Durban, where much of the city's new commercial and residential growth has been focused in recent years. Umhlanga Rocks is a seaside resort town north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is now part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Area, that also includes Durban. ... Ethekwini means At the Harbour in the Zulu language. ... Central area of Durban Durban is a city in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa (29°53′S 31°03′E). ...

Umhlanga Rocks, being a coastal town, is a very popular tourist destination. Many attractions include the Sharks Board, surfing and Gateway, the biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere.

External links

• BBC news 2002 photo gallery
• Swazi.com article
• Tourism site describing the Zulu ceremony