Where naked virgins dance for royals
In Buganda Kingdom in the 18th century, the half-naked virgin women danced only before the Kabaka and inside the palace
In Buganda Kingdom in the 18th century, the half-naked virgin women danced only before the Kabaka and inside the palace
By Dick Kasolo
The world famous Reed dance is a two-day annual cultural carnival that takes place at royal palaces in many countries. In the Kingdom of Zulu in South Africa, it is popularly known as Umkhosi Womhlanga.
Thousands of virgin girls and women assemble before the dance ceremony begins and wash their bodies in the river, then carry green ten-foot reeds celebrating their chastity and preparation for womanhood. The reed is a symbol that the girls are virgins. It is believed that the reed can break into two if a non-virgin dared to touch it! In such a case, the crowds would maul the offender.
Not even the rain and biting cold can stop the virtually naked virgins from enjoying their ceremony –– they come in huge numbers and in all imaginable shapes, shades and sizes.
The annual reed dance ceremony climaxed Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s journey to Zululand recently. The dance was held at Royal Palace on September 13 and 14.
According to Prince Mongosuthu Buthelezi, the Chairman of the House of Traditional Leaders of Zulu Kingdom and President of Inkha Freedom Party, the dance is one of the most ancient traditions in cultures around the world. In many other countries around the world, the beginning of spring was greeted with a ceremony of happiness, joy, renewal and cerebration of life –– virgin girls danced to climax the event.
In Buganda during the 18th century according to the Katikkiro of Buganda Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, half naked virgins used to perform a dance called Amafere before the Kabaka. At the end of the dance, the Kabaka would pick new wives similar to what takes place in the Swaziland Kingdom.
The only difference is that the dance was only watched by the Kabaka inside the palace. Prince Buthelezi says the reed dance ceremony has always been an important addition to the original rituals of the Zulu nation as it underscores the eternally cyclical phase of life.
It is a ceremony on which the old generation re-affirms its commitment to ensure that the future of the younger generation will be better than the one they had when they were their age.
The dance is a celebration of the lost time of people’s childhood and adolescence. “It is essential that we find time and space to go back to our own time of youth and re-gain not only those memories, but also those feelings and the joy which came with them and make them part of our own present,†said Buthelezi.
He thanked King Zwelithin of Zulu for having introduced the reed dance, which brou-ght together other royals from Swaziland, Buganda and other kingdoms.
By Dick Kasolo
The world famous Reed dance is a two-day annual cultural carnival that takes place at royal palaces in many countries. In the Kingdom of Zulu in South Africa, it is popularly known as Umkhosi Womhlanga.
Thousands of virgin girls and women assemble before the dance ceremony begins and wash their bodies in the river, then carry green ten-foot reeds celebrating their chastity and preparation for womanhood. The reed is a symbol that the girls are virgins. It is believed that the reed can break into two if a non-virgin dared to touch it! In such a case, the crowds would maul the offender.
Not even the rain and biting cold can stop the virtually naked virgins from enjoying their ceremony –– they come in huge numbers and in all imaginable shapes, shades and sizes.
The annual reed dance ceremony climaxed Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s journey to Zululand recently. The dance was held at Royal Palace on September 13 and 14.
According to Prince Mongosuthu Buthelezi, the Chairman of the House of Traditional Leaders of Zulu Kingdom and President of Inkha Freedom Party, the dance is one of the most ancient traditions in cultures around the world. In many other countries around the world, the beginning of spring was greeted with a ceremony of happiness, joy, renewal and cerebration of life –– virgin girls danced to climax the event.
In Buganda during the 18th century according to the Katikkiro of Buganda Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, half naked virgins used to perform a dance called Amafere before the Kabaka. At the end of the dance, the Kabaka would pick new wives similar to what takes place in the Swaziland Kingdom.
The only difference is that the dance was only watched by the Kabaka inside the palace. Prince Buthelezi says the reed dance ceremony has always been an important addition to the original rituals of the Zulu nation as it underscores the eternally cyclical phase of life.
It is a ceremony on which the old generation re-affirms its commitment to ensure that the future of the younger generation will be better than the one they had when they were their age.
The dance is a celebration of the lost time of people’s childhood and adolescence. “It is essential that we find time and space to go back to our own time of youth and re-gain not only those memories, but also those feelings and the joy which came with them and make them part of our own present,†said Buthelezi.
He thanked King Zwelithin of Zulu for having introduced the reed dance, which brou-ght together other royals from Swaziland, Buganda and other kingdoms.