The country’s Umhlanga Reed Dance has been ranked as the third most famous festival in Africa by data and analytics platform Globe Data.
The ranking places the kingdom’s flagship cultural event among some of the continent’s most celebrated festivals. According to Globe Data’s ranking of the ‘Top 20 Most Famous Festivals of Africa’, Umhlanga was placed behind Nigeria’s Calabar Carnival and Ethiopia’s Epiphany Festival (Timkat), while ranking ahead of Nigeria’s Durbar Festival, Morocco’s Gnaoua World Music Festival and Zambia’s Kuomboka Ceremony.
The recognition places Eswatini’s annual cultural spectacle alongside some of Africa’s most internationally recognised cultural, religious and tourism events.
Umhlanga, which is held annually at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence, attracts tens of thousands of maidens and spectators from within and outside the country. The ceremony is widely regarded as one of the country’s most important cultural events and a significant driver of cultural tourism.
Independent tourism and travel publications have previously described Umhlanga as one of the country’s premier cultural attractions, drawing visitors from across the globe.
The festival has also continued to gain international visibility as recent tourism data showed increased international visitor numbers during the 2025 Umhlanga, reinforcing its growing appeal as a cultural tourism product. In its ranking, Globe Data highlighted festivals that have gained prominence through their cultural significance, popularity and international recognition.
Other events featured on the list include Rwanda’s Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony, South Africa’s National Arts Festival, Malawi’s Lake of Stars Festival and Egypt’s Abu Simbel Sun Festival. While festival rankings can vary depending on the criteria used by different organisations, the placement of Umhlanga near the top of Globe Data’s list is likely to be viewed as further recognition of local cultural heritage and the festival’s growing international profile.
The Umhlanga Reed Dance remains one of Africa’s most distinctive traditional ceremonies. The annual event celebrates Swati culture and identity while serving as a major platform for showcasing the kingdom to international visitors and media.
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane said Umhlanga is a centuries-old cultural activity that formed part of the country’s very rich cultural heritage.
Umhlanga is one the pillars upon which our strategic goal of bringing 2 million tourists and E2 billion receipts by 2027 is anchored.
As a ministry, we are very excited at the rating and the recognition that has been bestowed on this historic cultural event.
“We are so indebted to His Majesty and Her Majesty for being pivotal in preserving the nation’s cultural identity that has become one of the tourist attractions,” she said.
