THOUSANDS of maidens delivered their reed before His Majesty King Mswati III and Her Majesty the Indlovukazi at Ludzidzini Royal Residence on Sunday.
The colourful reed delivery marked another important stage of the 2026 Umhlanga Ceremony as the maidens presented the reed they had collected from different designated riverbanks (tidzidzi).
The maidens had travelled to various reed-cutting sites, including Mpisi Farm, Masundvwini and Longolotjeni where they cut the reeds on Friday before returning to Ludzidzini. On Sunday, the maidens gathered in large numbers to deliver the reed before Their Majesties.
The maidens sang ‘Sivulele Ngwane sitobika lokuhle’ while carrying their bundles of reed. They were led by Inkhosatana Sakhizwe, Liphovela LaZuma and Indvuna Yembali Bongiwe ‘Vivane’ Hlatjwako.
The maidens took turns placing the reed at the designated area near the royal kraal. After delivering their reed, they danced and sang as they proceeded to the main dancing arena (emkhunjini). Their Majesties watched as thousands of maidens completed the delivery before later heading to erena where they joined the rest of the maidens and watched them dance.
The ceremony was attended by Emakhosikati and Emazinyane, as well as dignitaries from neighbouring countries. Among those present was Botswana’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Entrepreneurship Tiroeaone Ntsima, who represented the President of Botswana Duma Boko.
Former South African president Jacob Zuma also attended the ceremony. The participation of maidens from South Africa added to the cultural diversity of the event.
Maidens from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga joined their counterparts in the celebrations. They entered the dancing arena singing their home songs and performing traditional dances from their regions.
For the maidens, the reed delivery was not only about completing a traditional activity, but also an opportunity to celebrate their culture and share the experience with thousands of other young women.
Speaking after delivering her reed, Sibonele Dlamini of Lobamba Lomdzala said she was excited to dance and deliver the reed after the long march from the riverbank.
Dlamini said she was attending the Umhlanga Ceremony for the fifth time and was happy to once again be part of the celebrations.
“I am super excited,” she said.
She said participating in the ceremony continued to give her an opportunity to experience and celebrate culture.
Nelile Msibi of Gege described the reed delivery as a true display of culture and an important way of keeping the country’s traditions alive.
Msibi said she was proud to be part of the 2026 Umhlanga Ceremony.
Meanwhile, Nosipho Zulu of Nsangwini thanked Their Majesties for their continued love and support towards the maidens. Zulu said it felt good to have the opportunity to dance before Their Majesties.
South African stars join celebration glamour
South African stars added glamour to the Umhlanga 2026 celebrations on Day Six of the ceremony.
Former TKZee member Sibusiso Ntshangase was among the guests who witnessed maidens dancing ahead of the main day.
Ntshangase said he was attending Umhlanga for the first time, an experience he described as ‘beyond words’.
He said the celebration was overwhelmingly beautiful and enjoyable, adding that he felt honoured to have been invited to witness such an important cultural event.
He said his first experience of Umhlanga had left a lasting impression on him, particularly the way the maidens proudly displayed the country’s culture through traditional songs and dance.
His presence added another South African voice to the growing appreciation of Umhlanga beyond the country’s borders.
Also among the high-profile guests were South African afro-pop singing duo, the Qwabe Twins.
The twins joined Their Majesties and thousands of maidens watched and appreciated the colourful performances by Imbali. The Qwabe Twins were dressed by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture for the occasion. They said they were amazed by the kingdom and its culture, describing the country as an amazing place.
The appearance of the South African stars highlighted the growing interest in local cultural celebrations across the region.
With guests from outside the country joining the celebrations, Umhlanga continues to provide a platform for people from different backgrounds to experience and appreciate Eswatini traditions first-hand.
