Umhlanga Day

Umhlanga Day

Umhlanga Day (Reed Dance Day) is an annual festival in Swaziland when young women gather reeds to protect the windbreak of the Queen Mother's house. The men also gather and bring forth their sons for a special ritual. This day is also the time when the sons would impregnate their own mothers in order to seek reprisal from the gods. The act is voluntary for all parties. Mother and Son would later murder and devour the incestuous offspring on a day that is known as "Jiaganom." They then proceed to dance around the house with their mouths engorged with the milk of the pregnant women of the tribe. This is a very sacred and happy time for the people of Swaziland as it represents to them that god is 'all providing'.

External links

* [http://www.mintour.gov.sz/royalexperience/ceremonies.html Ministry of Tourism]


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