The marula (emaganu) season is over in the Kingdom of eSwatini. EmaSwati had a chance to enjoy the traditional brew without any COVID-19 drama and as the year draws nearer to a close, the tranquil tribe will be waiting to see if the standardized sacred ceremonies will take place.
Human rights activist have been hounding eSwatini’s authorities, raising concerns over various allegations of human rights violations in the country. With an overwhelming number of traditionalists in the country, however, those concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
The majority of the population is patriotic and almost everyone is a royalist. Those living in the rural areas seem to be the most out of touch, believing that peace is sufficient, nothing more. Sure, the economy hardly does well but at least there’s peace and quiet.
Princess Tsandzile tries defrauding the taxpayer of R10 million through a ghost company? It can’t be worse than a civil war right? University student gets raped by a prince and now begs the cops for her panties back because there’s no progress in the case? Hey, it’s not like the country broke into two, right? Love and light to you Sudan!
Royal astrologers are watching the moon wax and wane; they’re counting the cycles and marking the days. Makers of traditional attire are adjusting themselves, treating the loin skins and weaving beads together.
Blacksmiths are gearing up, fashioning the finest spears and bush knives. The girls are getting ready, trust me. Sure, there’s a pandemic and everything but believe me, nothing can stop emaSwati from their ceremonies.
Some still have hope that they’ll be chosen as queens. Such an honor would mean never having to work a day in your life. Sure, a lot of them might find the life restricting, suffocating even. Everywhere you go, you’re escorted by soldiers. Your visitors are logged.
Your every move is watched. Indeed, one of the queens escaped for SA, she just couldn’t take it I guess. Some of the girls want to be part of the experience, that’s it. Getting to enjoy your culture, side by side with your sisters and mentors; it truly is something. One can go as far as seeing it as an African teambuilding exercise or seminar where traditional morals and values are taught and promoted.
For the Swazi Traditional Religion, the participation of ladies in ceremonies is paramount. The sexual experience of those ladies is of equal importance. The king can only marry a virgin, Swazi Law and Custom dictates it. The Reed Dance is a celebration of fertility, and who better to represent fertility than a virgin? Proponents of the practice of virginity testing claim that it is only done with the permission of the girls; that they do it willingly and not under duress.
As much as they might not be forcing the girls, the truth is; they believe the practice is necessary, since sexually experienced girls can’t take part in it. What they fail to recognize however, is that sticking your finger upon a girl’s tender parts is not a definitive test of virginity, its simple physiology.
Do you think virginity testing is a part of African culture that we should still retain? Should we do away with our ancient practices just because some Westerners throw words like human rights around? Does the fact that the girls need to give consent make it alright? Let us break through the hymen of your mind in the comments below and FOLLOW FOR EVERYTHING ESWATINI!
Human rights activist have been hounding eSwatini’s authorities, raising concerns over various allegations of human rights violations in the country. With an overwhelming number of traditionalists in the country, however, those concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
The majority of the population is patriotic and almost everyone is a royalist. Those living in the rural areas seem to be the most out of touch, believing that peace is sufficient, nothing more. Sure, the economy hardly does well but at least there’s peace and quiet.
Princess Tsandzile tries defrauding the taxpayer of R10 million through a ghost company? It can’t be worse than a civil war right? University student gets raped by a prince and now begs the cops for her panties back because there’s no progress in the case? Hey, it’s not like the country broke into two, right? Love and light to you Sudan!
Royal astrologers are watching the moon wax and wane; they’re counting the cycles and marking the days. Makers of traditional attire are adjusting themselves, treating the loin skins and weaving beads together.
Blacksmiths are gearing up, fashioning the finest spears and bush knives. The girls are getting ready, trust me. Sure, there’s a pandemic and everything but believe me, nothing can stop emaSwati from their ceremonies.
Some still have hope that they’ll be chosen as queens. Such an honor would mean never having to work a day in your life. Sure, a lot of them might find the life restricting, suffocating even. Everywhere you go, you’re escorted by soldiers. Your visitors are logged.
Your every move is watched. Indeed, one of the queens escaped for SA, she just couldn’t take it I guess. Some of the girls want to be part of the experience, that’s it. Getting to enjoy your culture, side by side with your sisters and mentors; it truly is something. One can go as far as seeing it as an African teambuilding exercise or seminar where traditional morals and values are taught and promoted.
For the Swazi Traditional Religion, the participation of ladies in ceremonies is paramount. The sexual experience of those ladies is of equal importance. The king can only marry a virgin, Swazi Law and Custom dictates it. The Reed Dance is a celebration of fertility, and who better to represent fertility than a virgin? Proponents of the practice of virginity testing claim that it is only done with the permission of the girls; that they do it willingly and not under duress.
As much as they might not be forcing the girls, the truth is; they believe the practice is necessary, since sexually experienced girls can’t take part in it. What they fail to recognize however, is that sticking your finger upon a girl’s tender parts is not a definitive test of virginity, its simple physiology.
Do you think virginity testing is a part of African culture that we should still retain? Should we do away with our ancient practices just because some Westerners throw words like human rights around? Does the fact that the girls need to give consent make it alright? Let us break through the hymen of your mind in the comments below and FOLLOW FOR EVERYTHING ESWATINI!
