Mbabane: Can emaSwati afford to attend the reed dance and celebrate the most sacred festival, Incwala wearing face masks amid the widespread of COVID-19?
Based on the ways through which the disease spread, the reasonable answer is NO.
But it is yet to be seen if these two festivals would be cancelled as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many events around the world to be cancelled or postponed.
Globally, about 372 events were either cancelled or postponed to 2021, depending on the spread on the novel coronavirus disease. The most prominent events to be affected include but not limited to the Summer Olympics and the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 which was cancelled entirely.
Here at home, among the most prominent events to be affected were the 2020 King’s Birthday celebration, and the MTN BUSHFIRE Festival which was deferred to May 2021.
With these two cancelled, and with the coronavirus disease incessantly spreading like wild fire in a windy day, there are two major colourful tribal and historical festivals which the country boast that face cancellation only if the country’s authorities and government are seriously determined to save the lives of emaSwati.
These events are Incwala and Umhlanga, the reed dance festival. In the latter, the focus is on the young women of the kingdom. In Incwala, it is the king himself who takes centre stage.
Incwala is Eswatini’s most important cultural event and celebrates the start of the harvest season. And it is yet to be seen if the king will have the gut to cancel the country’s most important cultural event which celebrates the start of the harvest season. History has it that the event can only be cancelled when there is no sitting king at the time. His Majesty, the king has presided over 34 Incwala ceremonies since he was crowned the King in 1986 and it could be the first time the event is not held during his reign. He has also witnessed the same number of the Reed Dance Festival as a sitting king.
Soon after the first positive COVID-19 case was confirmed in March, the king swiftly commanded government to announce a month-long national lockdown and cancelled his birthday celebration and Easter services. That was hailed by a majority of emaSwati and was labelled as being proactive. He also commanded government to channel monies which were budgeted for the celebrations to the fight against the pandemic.
The cancellation of mass gatherings is aimed at preventing people from coming together in one place which was seen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is one of the ways in which the disease spreads quickly. It was also discovered by health professionals that it is hard for people in huge gathering to practice social distancing and that perpetuates the spread of the disease.
Combined, Incwala and Umhlanga attracts about 100 000 people. Based on the Covid-19 regulations, a gathering of such magnitude is strictly forbidden. Based on this ground, government would be going against its own rules if the two events could be allowed.
Currently, social events that bring together a large number of people which include churches, weddings, vigils were held under strict conditions. The regulations require that attendees be scanned to determined body temperatures, be provided with running water and soap to wash their hands regularly, wear face masks and maintain distance of at least 1.5 metres in between.
With these regulations at hand, it would mean that the authorities allow a less and manageable number of young women and prevent onlookers from attending the event. As per the regulations, the girls should be allowed to keep a 1.5 metres distance in between themselves and wear masks, a mission that would be highly impossible. Same standards could apply to those who might attend Incwala. Again, all attendees would have to be tested before attending these events and be monitored throughout.
Globally, as of Wednesday, there were 13.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, 7.6 million recoveries and 585 000 deaths. Of the 13.6 million cases, Eswatini accounts for 1 489 positive cases, with a death toll standing at 20 and 724 recoveries.
Acting Ludzidzini Governor Lusendvo Fakudze told Independent News that the decision whether to host these two colourful tribal festivals would be taken by the King and the nation will be notified in due course.
The Incwala festival occurs at the summer solstice, which is known as midsummer day. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer solstice can fall anywhere from 20 to 23 of December. According to Public Holidays Global, the 20120 Incwala Day will be on Monday, December 28.
About Incwala
When is Incwala Day?
Incwala Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). The date is based on ancestral astrology.
The Eswatini National Trust Commission gives the date as the fourth day after the full moon nearest the longest day, December 21st. This unique date rule means the festival can take place in December or January.
History of Incwala Day
This landlocked country in southern Africa can boast two of the most colourful tribal and historical festivals on the continent; Incwala and Umhlanga, the reed dance festival. In the latter, the focus is on the young women of the kingdom. In Incwala, it is the king himself who takes centre stage.
Incwala is Eswatini’s most important cultural event and celebrates the start of the harvest season.
In the run-up to the festival, men journey to the coast of Mozambique to gather water.
It is only after the king eats the first fruit that the people can partake of the harvest. This is why the festival is sometimes called the ‘First Fruits Festival’, but that event takes place on the fourth day and the festival extends over six days, full of rituals and traditions developed over many centuries:
Day 1: Fetching the Lusekwane (sickle bush)
Unmarried male youths set off from the Queen Mother’s village and march 50 kilometres to cut branches of the “lusekwane” under the light of the full moon.
Day 2: Dropping the Lusekwane
The boys place their “lusekwane” branches in the national cattle byre/kraal. The elders weave these branches in between the poles of the “inhlambelo” – the king’s private sanctuary.
Day 3
In the morning, young boys cut branches of the “black imbondvo” (red bushwillow) and these are added to the “inhlambelo”. In the afternoon, the king is receives traditional medicines in his sanctuary.
Day 4: Eating the First Fruits and Throwing the Gourd
The main day and the public holiday: all the key players perform in a spectacular pageant inside the cattle byre; the king and regiments appear in full war-dress.
Day 5: Day of Abstinence
After the spectacle, excitement and noise of the main day, today is set aside to gather breath and reflect upon the year. During the daylight hours, there is no sexual contact, touching water, wearing decorations, sitting on chairs/mats, shaking hands, scratching, singing or dancing.
Day 6: Day of the Log
The regiments march to a forest and return with firewood. The elders prepare a great fire in the centre of the cattle byre. On it, certain ritual objects are burnt, signifying the end of the old year, while the key players dance and sing inside the byre. The king remains in seclusion until the next full moon, when the “lusekwane” branches are removed and burnt.
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