Umhlanga

Umhlanga, also known as the Reed Dance ceremony, is a vibrant annual event celebrated in Eswatini and South Africa. In Eswatini, this eight-day ceremony takes place at the Ludzidzini Royal Village and sees unmarried and childless Swazi girls and women coming together. Originating in the 1940s, this tradition was established by Sobhuza II as an adaptation of the older Umcwasho ritual.

In South Africa, the reed dance, known as Umkhosi woMhlanga, was introduced in 1991 by King Goodwill Zwelithini. This event is held at the Enyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal. Here, girls undergo virginity tests before participating in the dance, where they don traditional attire and dance bare-breasted while carrying long reeds, symbolizing their purity. The ceremony aims to encourage abstinence until marriage as a means to prevent HIV transmission.

In Eswatini, the girls cut reeds to repair the windscreen around the royal village before taking part in a parade, dressed in traditional costumes. The ceremony is designed to preserve women's chastity, provide tribute labor for the Queen Mother, and foster a sense of solidarity among women.

The reed dance has not been without controversy, particularly with videos of the event being restricted on platforms like YouTube. However, after protests emphasizing the cultural significance of the ceremony, YouTube lifted these restrictions, acknowledging the importance of such traditions.