Understanding the cultural power of Umkhosi woMhlanga
Last week, thousands of Zulu maidens descended on the eMashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola to take part in Umkhosi woMhlanga,
Image: File
Last week, thousands of Zulu maidens descended on the eMashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola to take part in Umkhosi woMhlanga, the Reed Dance, which is one of South Africa’s most sacred and striking cultural ceremonies.
The Reed Dance was revived in 1991 by the late King Goodwill Zwelithini to promote cultural pride and to celebrate the womanhood of young Zulu maidens.
The annual event attracts maidens from across KwaZulu-Natal and several provinces, bringing communities together in a display of tradition, music, and dance.
The event has become one of the Zulu nation’s most important cultural celebrations, serving not only as a showcase of heritage but also as a platform for promoting values, unity, and respect for tradition.
However, despite its growth and the increasing number of participants each year, some people still do not fully understand the significance and history behind the event.
According to retired lecturer and cultural expert Ndela Ntshangase, the Reed Dance, or Umkhosi woMhlanga, is a sacred ceremony that celebrates the origins of human life.
"Umkhosi woMhlanga is a ceremony, is a ceremony, which seeks to celebrate the origins of human beings in this world. And in addition, it is also a prayer directed to God, thanking him for the perpetuation of human beings," Ntshangase said in an interview with the SABC.
He further noted that the carrying of reeds is deeply symbolic. According to Zulu oral tradition, the first human ancestors are believed to have emerged from a reed bed.
“The girls carry umhlanga (reed) to indicate that the first ancestors originated from a reed bed... They are celebrating the originality of their people,” he said.
Ntshangase also highlighted the symbolic role of young women in the ceremony.
"It is a choice for themselves to participate in this. They are not forced by any other person, even to go for the virginity testing in their respective areas."
IOL