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Video Summary
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The Amhlanga, or Eswatini reed dance, is an eight-day cultural festival celebrating womanhood, unity, and Swazi heritage. Thousands of unmarried young women gather to collect reeds and perform traditional songs and dances for the royal family. Formalized in the 1940s, the event serves as a powerful display of cultural pride and respect for the monarchy and community values.
The Eswatini reed dance, or Amhlanga.
Thousands of unmarried and childless young ladies and women gather to participate in this eight-day event,
also known as the reed dance, celebrating Swazi culture through song, dance and traditional attire.
The Amhlanga festival takes place in Eswatini at the end of August or the beginning of September.
The Amhlanga reed dance is a public holiday, with schools and most businesses closed.
The ceremony was formalised in the 1940s during the reign of King Subhuza II
as an adaptation of the much older Umpch Warsho ceremony.
Young girls gather at the Queen Mother's venue,
to take part in the festival, which involves collecting reeds, preparing traditional costumes
and performing dances before the royal family and spectators.
The Swazi king's daughters and royal princesses also participate
and are distinguished by the crown of red feathers they wear in their hair.
The Eswatini reed dance, or Amhlanga, is not only a vibrant display of Swazi tradition
but also a powerful celebration of womanhood, unity and cultural pride.
Good afternoon, this is Joe Walsh from Toledo, Ohio.
I'm here in Eswatini at the royal residence to observe an annual ceremony,
which is to perform a dance and cultural exhibit.
I've only been in this country for approximately 30 hours and the scenery is magnificent.
The people are extremely friendly and so far the food has been good.
I have nothing really negative at all to say.
I'm an American, I'm actually a nurse in the United States
and I'm currently in Eswatini, which is my 99th country that I've visited,
which is very, very exciting.
I'm here because I had been to Lesotho a few years ago and I absolutely loved it.
When I did some research about Eswatini, it's been very cultural and very interesting and very friendly.
So far, I've been having a great time.
I'm very excited to hang out with all these fun women and have a good time.
It's been a really good experience.
We came from Russia today and we've been in the country for a few days now.
We've seen the beautiful scenery around and today we want to see this ceremony.
After that, we plan to continue our traveling.
So we hope that you enjoy your culture and see you soon.
The reed dance skeshjul day one.
This is the first day of registration.
The young ladies gather at the Queen Mother's Royal Village,
today located in Lodzidzini.
During King Sobhuza II's time, it was held in Lubamba.
The participants arrive in groups from around 200 chiefdoms
and are registered for security purposes.
They stay with relatives in the village or in classrooms of nearby schools.
It's an exciting day as the festivities begin.
The participants are divided into two groups,
the older girls about 14 to 22 years and the younger ones about 8 to 13 years.
In the afternoon, they march to the reed beds with their supervisors.
The older girls often walk about 30 kilometers,
while the younger group covers around 10 kilometers.
So this is day two of the reed dance.
This is the attire that I was going to wear on the day.
I placed it on my bed so that I don't forget anything,
because it's so easy to forget things at this position.
Day three.
The young ladies cut their reeds, typically gathering around 10 to 20.
Each lady ties her reeds into a bundle.
Day four.
In the afternoon, the participants set off to return to the Queen Mother's Village,
carrying their bundles of reeds.
Day five.
This is a day of rest,
during which the girls make final preparations for their hair and dancing costumes.
After days of walking, they certainly deserve some pampering.
This is my friend Mimi, and she had asked me to come with her to do her nails and her hair.
So here I was fully traced.
Day six.
The first day of dancing begins in the afternoon, around 3 to 5 p.m.
The girls drop their reeds outside the Queen Mother's quarters before moving to the arena to perform.
They dance in groups, each singing different songs simultaneously,
filling the air with vibrant harmonies.
Day seven.
This is the second and final day of dancing, and His Majesty the King is present.
Known as the Umlanga Main Day, it is a key highlight of the festival,
and in 2024, it was on Monday, 2 September.
Day eight.
The King commands the slaughter of several cattle, usually around 20 to 25, for the participants.
The young women receive portions of meat and return home joyfully, marking the close of the festival.
In conclusion, through this sacred ceremony, young women honour their heritage,
demonstrating their respect for the royal family, their community, and the values of purity and respect.
As they sing, dance, and carry their reeds with grace, they uphold a legacy passed down through generations,
ensuring that the heartbeat of Swazi culture continues to resonate for years to come.
