But we could be victimised if we speak out. The country is ruled by King Mswati III, 48, who appoints ministers, chiefs and judges – and owns most of the land. As a recent report by Action for Southern Africa put it: “Women continue to suffer discrimination, are treated as inferior to men, and are denied rights.” Polygamy and violence against women is widespread. Swaziland, a small, landlocked country in southern Africa, has a deeply male-dominated society. We shouldn’t be forced to wear certain clothes.” There are also many rules you have to adhere to when you attend the Umhlanga. “The girls sleep in small classrooms or tents without proper sanitation. I enjoyed it, but as I became older I wasn’t comfortable with some of the things. “When I was a young girl, I attended the Umhlanga festival three times. Families who don’t send their daughters to the Umhlanga have to pay a fine, usually a goat or a cow,” says Nokwanda, 29, a teacher. However, there is growing criticism from human rights groups who claim cultural ceremonies are enforced in Swaziland by the last absolute monarchy in Africa. Traditionally, the king is allowed to choose one of the women as a wife, but in recent years the festival has been more about preserving a cultural heritage. On the final day of the festival, the young women, or “maidens”, parade bare-breasted at the royal village. The Umhlanga, a Swazi cultural tradition that celebrates chastity and virginity, attracts tens of thousands of women from across the country.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |