Women
taking part in Swaziland’s annual Reed Dance where they will parade half-naked
in front of King Mswati III have been banned from talking to the news media.
This emerged
in a report in the Swazi Observer on
Wednesday (30 August 2017), a newspaper in effect owned by the King who is sub-Saharan
Africa’s last absolute monarch.
The Reed
Dance participants who are generally described as ‘maidens’ or ‘virgins’ are
travelling to the Ludzidzini Royal Residence for a ceremony that ends on
Monday. The Observer reported that
maidens from the Northern Hhohho region were unable to speak to the media. The
newspaper wanted to know how much they were looking forward to the event.
The
newspaper reported, ‘authorities responsible for the maidens said they were not
allowed to conduct interviews with the media because they had not sought
permission from their superiors.’
It quoted
one saying, ‘Unfortunately, due to the fact that our superiors have not given
us the go ahead to speak to the media we are currently in no position to
comment on the preparations and we can’t reveal the number of maidens we
currently have here.’
Meanwhile,
it has been confirmed that the maidens will once again sing songs at the
ceremony against democracy in the kingdom where political parties cannot take
part in elections and prodemocracy campaigners are prosecuted under the
Suppression of Terrorism Act.
The Swazi Observer also reported on Wednesday
that about 80,000 maidens had registered to attend the Reed Dance (also known
as Umhlanga) and more were expected. It spoke to one leader Nonduduzo Zubuko.
It reported, ‘Zubuko said they would also be tackling issues of multi-party
democracy stating where they stand as a regiment.
‘“We are
happy with our system, we don’t need multi-parties in our country hence we will
put that out there for everyone to know in song,” he said.’
See also
SWAZILAND’S
SINISTER REED DANCE
DISPUTE OVER REED DANCE SAFETY
SWAZI
MAIDENS LEARN POLITICAL SONGS
CULTURAL REED DANCE TURNS POLITICAL
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/cultural-reed-dance-turns-political.html
SWAZIS FORCED TO DANCE FOR KING
SWAZIS FORCED TO DANCE FOR KING
SWAZI
GIRLS FACE PUBLIC WHIPPING
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