User:Lubandzi/The Reed Dance (ceremony)

A Swazi maiden at the Reed Dance

The Reed Dance is an annual traditional Swazi ceremony which occurs either at the end of August or the beginning of September. Tens of thousands of maidens, young and old, travel from the four regions of ESwatini and some parts of South Africa to the eLudzidzini Roral Kraal to take part in this eight-day event. The maides are grouped into different regiments according to their age: young unmarried girls are placed in one regiment, while older unmarried girls are placed in another. Families of older girls who happen to fall pregnant out of wedlock are fined a cow.