Pageantry

MBABANE – Pageant winners from the country as well as those from Mpumalanga are attending this year’s Umhlanga.

The Umhlanga, or Reed Dance Ceremony, is an annual event that takes place at the end of August or at the beginning of September.

Tens of thousands of maidens travel from the various chiefdoms to the Ludzidzini Royal Residence to participate in the eight-day event.

This year’s event kicked off on Tuesday with thousands of Imbali flocking to the Ludzidzini Royal Residence to register.

After successfully registering, they walked to Ngabezweni where they were commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III to cut the reed at Bhamusakhe and Mpisi Farm.

Pageants Eswatini Chairman Tony Dlamini revealed that for the first time they were hosting pageant winners from Mpumalanga as part of the reed dance. The Mpumalanga pageant winners were welcomed on Wednesday morning at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence, where they successfully registered with other maidens. “We have the regiment from Mpumalanga and they will be part of us until the Reed Dance ends,” Dlamini said.

Full article available in our publication.

After successfully registering places Imbali walked to Ngabezweni Royal Residence, where they were commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III to the different reed cutting. (Pic: ENCAC)