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Where's the party?
In Swaziland, the Ncwala Festival (first fruits) is
the most important and colourful occasion of the year, held
in December. The Swazi people have a strong allegiance
to their king who forms the central focal point of this festival.
It is a chance to honour the royal family as a source of fertility
for the country. This is quite apt as the late King Sobhuza
had over 100 wives and 600 children!
What happens at Ncwala?
The festival takes place over three weeks. The first phase
starts at the new moon when the Bemanti clan make the
journey east to the coast of Mozambique. Here they collect
the foam of the waves, which is believed to have healing powers.
When they return to the palace with the foam, a ceremony called
Little Ncwala is performed in traditional costume and
accompanied by sacred songs and dancing. This carries through
to the following week before the Big Ncwala festival
when every village in Swaziland celebrates with singing and
dancing.
When the moon is full then Big Ncwala begins with a colossal
journey undertaken by young men from all over the country.
On their journey they gather branches from the Lusekwane
tree to construct a sacred bower in the royal garden.
A sacred ox is then driven out from the King's kraal and slaughtered
for feasting the next day.
The day of Big Ncwala, warriors and guests assemble in the
royal compound dressed in traditional dress of animal skins,
grass skirts and feathers in their hair. The warriors dance
around the sacred bower to lure the king outside from the
palace. He will eventually emerge in his full regalia, with
his face painted, hair plumed and a money skin belt to perform
his sacred dance. The king is then presented with the first
harvested pumpkin of the season. He devours it and then throws
the rind into the crowd who erupt into a frenzy and chant
and dance songs of the season.
The nest day is dedicated solely to rest and meditation.
The sixth day is then celebrated with a huge bonfire. Articles
of villages and individuals are burnt on these bonfires to
herald the beginning of the New Year.
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