Marrying Young Virgins As A Tradition & Polygamy
81Marrying Young Virgins As a Tradition And Polygamy
King Mswati III of Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarch is a leading champion of this practice. Born in 1968, King Mswati III was crowned in 1986 at the young age of 18, replacing his long-serving father King Sobhuza II, who died at the age of 82. At the annual "Reed Dance Festival" the King has the option of choosing for himself a new wife from among the thousands of bare breasted maidens present.The kingdom of Swaziland is one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies in the world with the following profile:
- Population: 1.1 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Mbabane
- Area: 17,364 sq km (6,704 sq miles)
- Major languages: Swazi, English (both official)
- Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs
- Life expectancy: 32 years (men), 33 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 Lilangeni = 100 cents
- Main exports: Sugar, wood pulp, minerals
- GNI per capita: US $1,350 (World Bank, 2005)
The Young Virgins
During the "UMHLANGA (reed dance) FESTIVAL" Tens of thousands of virgin, bare breasted maidens danced for Swaziland's King Mswati III in a traditional dance at Ludzidzini palace outside the capital Mbabane. Most of these young bare breasted maidens hopes to get the attention of the King and becomes his new bride. At last count the King has at least 13wives. According to Swazi tradition, the King is always ment to have a bride in waiting. He can only marry her when she is prgenant. His own late father, King Sobhuza 11 who led the country to Independence from Great Britain had at least 70 wives
The King, His Country, And Life Style
Regardless of whether we agree or not about the young maidens, polygamy and an absolute monarchy, it is hard not to appreciate what Swaziland has to offer tourist as a country. The Mountainous sights, the friendly people and food. But unfortunately The Reed Dance Festival and polygamy in the face of the high rates of HIV/AIDS, and the Kings rather lavish lifestyle is serious cause for concern. In the small country where there is huge poverty, the King spends $millions to celebrate his 40th birthday. He also spends millions on super luxury vehicles and has some of the best cars on his collections. He also lavish his wives with gifts of cars amongst other things. It is the dream of most young girls to be the wife of King Mswati, this means they will move into the palace and their every needs attended to. The issue of polygamy doesnt bother them, who could blame them when the avegare inhabitant lives on less than $1 a day?
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Comments
Interesting , it is a shame that the country is starving and others he is living lavishly. My concern with sharing (polygamy) is veneral diseases. Do they test these women for Aids and other STD's prior to marriage? It is a very good hub . :)
Would probably have AIDS tests I would imagine, and Jacob Zuma, the proposed to new president of South Africa has quite a few wives and first ladies as well! Could be quite pricey when other leaders entertain him and his first ladies
@Cindyvin, I believe King Mswati is very smart about protecting his own self because he normally sends his fiancée for AIDS test. Thanks for stopping by
@ AEvans, yes he sure does test these women for Aids and other STD's prior to marriage. Wow! About Polygamy so you are only concerned about the STD what about having the person all to your self, you are really generous lol. Yes it's a real shame about the King's lavish style considering the state of poverty. Thanks for stopping by.. See ya!
@RK Henry thanks for stopping by.
Way interesting.
Honestly, I'm not surprised at this type of stuff...more women than men, and men want to have the biggest stable of them all.
G|M
hmmm Im not so sure Im digging this one, I think it's a little gusty for me to talk about this one. I personally didnt think the best for this one.
Polygamy is definitely not a cool thing. Think about the pressure he is under to keep up to these young things, and what kind of independence do these women have?
I do not understand why you people are so worked up about things that do not concern you. The girls are happy, their families are happy, and the king is happy; what is your problem? I cannot understand how anyone can claim that polygamy brings AIDS. If anything, it impedes AIDS because the people stop going everywhere else to look for sex. What brings AIDS is the homosexuality Europeans are trying to impose on uninterested and disgusted Africans..
So unbelivable, I think Afrika still has a long way towards achieving and living the good life. For me there is nothing wrong with the reed dance since it pomotes self respect and reduces risks of sexually attained problems but Mswati is absolutely insane.
Yes it is the Swazi culture for the king to marry many wives but culture is dynamic therefore for this day, age and context it is inapropriate to have 13 wives. Now young girls will stay beautiful, virgins and innocent but wont know love and independnce since their dreams are to get impregnated by the king and then marry him.
I think someone needs to take the king somewhere nice and quiet and knock some sence into him then give him 40 days and 40 nights to think about this matter. Poor beautiful virgins!
i think the great king mswati is doing good jb by not letting his forefathers traditional culture down the drain.
i think the great king mswati is doing good jb by not letting his forefathers traditional culture down the drain.
RKHenry says:
8 months ago
Very interesting hub.