Brilliant Colors, Rich Cultural Traditions of “Must See” eSwatini
Share my visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland, or eSwatini as it’s now known. The last traditional kingdom in Africa. I found cheerful, friendly Swazi people proud of their rich culture and traditions, which they love to share with visitors.
In few places have the youth uprisings been as surprising as in Eswatini, a kingdom of 1.2 million people that changed its colonial name, Swaziland, in 2018 on the order of the king.
I found the Swazis to be charming and anxious to provide visitors a vibrant African experience. Every day at the Matsamo Cultural Village where I visited, there are displays of lively dancing and beautiful Swazi singing.
The King, Mswati III has been in power since 1986 and with the counsel of the Queen Mother, he rules the kingdom from multiple lavish palaces. His royal $58 million Airbus plane is nearly three-quarters the length of a football field.
This king presides over a country where youth unemployment is a suffocating 58 percent. Many of the nation’s children are orphaned, mostly because their parents have died of AIDS.
New York Times 2/17/24
Not surprising then, have been the many youth uprisings which have taken place in eSwatini, a kingdom of 1.2 million people that changed its colonial name, Swaziland, in 2018 on the order of the king.
In each village, the highest political, economic and ritual power are shared between this hereditary male ruler and his mother. Polygamy is widely practiced and each marriage involves payment of a “bride price” or lobola. The amount can include several head of cattle, goats and a sum of money depending on the family.
The largest Swazi festival is the yearly Umhalanga Reed Dance. In this eight-day ceremony, young girls cut reeds, present them to the Queen Mother and then dance in celebration. Up to 40,000 girls take part, dressed up in brightly colored attired similar to those in my pictures – making it one of the biggest and most spectacular cultural events in Africa.
Tha Matsamo Cultural Village offers a peek into the lives and traditions of the Swazi people:
Physical Address: R570/1429 Jeppes Reef area,
Matsamo border gate, Mpumalanga.
Postal Address: P.O Box 2812 Shongwe Mission 1331, Mpumalanga,
Website: www.matsamocustoms.com
Contact person: Dudu Ngomane
Cellphone: +27(0) 63 0762 527
Email: dudu@matsamocustoms.com & info@matsamocustoms.com
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