Maidens answer Mswati's call
2007-08-29 22:28
Mbabane - Swaziland's King Mswati III on Wednesday sent more than 40 000 maidens to cut reeds ahead of the country's annual reed dance where bare-breasted virgins dance before Africa's last absolute monarch.
The young girls started arriving in the country's spiritual capital Ludzidzini on Monday, and a bigger than usual turnout was expected, with much international interest in the annual event.
"We are looking forward to a very good event," said traditional overseer Ntfonjeni Dlamini.
Dlamini said Qatar-based network Al-Jazeera was already in the country to cover the event, along with a television crew from Taiwan which is making a documentary about the event.
Last year the increasing numbers of tourists taking pictures of the bare-breasted girls drew criticism, with some saying the event was being used by voyeurs and sex tourists.
Thousands of virgins will dance in front of Mswati after the reed cutting ceremony held at Ludzidzini which is about 15km south of the capital.
The reeds are eventually used for traditional huts and other traditional structures, said Dlamini on Wednesday.
The king's eldest daughter, 17-year-old Princess Sikhanyiso, is leading the maidens and she will do so until she gets married.
The ceremony is one of the most important in the deeply traditional kingdom, and is an opportunity for unbetrothed girls to pay homage to the Swazi Queen Mother.
The king also sometimes uses the occasion to choose a new wife. He currently has 13 wives.