#swaziculture

Swaziland’s culture is beautiful, meaningful and relevant.

All cultural or important events in the country are set according to the passage of the moon, even the opening of Parliament

There are a number of cultural events during each year the two most important are the Incwala Ceremony and the Umhlanga Reed Dance.

Incwala is an ancient ceremony which brings together the entire nation to sing sacred songs and dance together to bring blessings to the country. As  it is open to all, a gardener dances next to a cabinet minister and a prince, a cleaner can be dancing next to a Queen and everyone is on the exact same level as the next. Traditional dancing is said to be the best way to bring a nation together and to dispel any type of class system.

In November the spiritual leaders, called the Water Party leave on foot from Swaziland carrying no water or food or money  to collect the scared water from both Mozambique and Mpumalanga. They trust that people along the way will assist them, and people do!

When the water arrives the dancing begins, this is called the Little Incwala and a large bonfire is started in the kraal which will burn throughout the ceremony.

Then the young warriors are sent out to walk up the mountains to gather the sacred shrub. It is during these nights that the young men are set tasks such as carrying a load of water in a bucket with holes in, they are then named according to how the perform! “he runs slowly and brings no water”, “He who runs like a leopard”.

Once the warriors bring back the shrub, the nation gathers to sing and dance, some years there are eighty thousand people dancing and singing together. His Majesty then blesses the four corners of the country and asks for good rain, abundance and blessings.