Swazi (emaSwati)
Nguni kingdom; umhlanga (the reed dance) is its best-known rite.
Eswatini
South AfricasiSwatiCustoms they practice
6 recorded rites, each with its steps and its WHY.
Imbeleko · introducing the child to the ancestors
The Nguni rite in which a goat is slaughtered at the family homestead to introduce a newborn (or a person never introduced) to the ancestors and formally place them in the clan.
Xhosa · Zulu · Ndebele +2
Umhlanga · the reed dance
The great gathering of unmarried young women in Eswatini (and KwaZulu’s counterpart): reeds are cut and presented to the Queen Mother, followed by days of song, dance, and national celebration of young womanhood.
Swazi · Zulufor women
Lobola · the bride wealth negotiation
The formal meeting of two families in which the groom’s side presents cattle or money to the bride’s side, joining the clans and dignifying the bride.
Zulu · Xhosa · Ndebele +8
Ukuthwasa · answering the healer’s calling
The path by which a person called by the ancestors (often through illness and dreams) apprentices under an established healer to emerge as a sangoma: diviner, healer, and bridge to the ancestors.
Zulu · Xhosa · Ndebele +1
Incwala · Kingship Ceremony
The Incwala ceremony is a sacred ritual that marks the beginning of the harvest season and the king's role in ensuring the country's fertility and prosperity. It is a time of great celebration and spiritual renewal.
Swazi
Umchwasho · Female Initiation
Umchwasho is a traditional female initiation ceremony that marks a girl's transition to womanhood. It is a time of great celebration and spiritual growth.
Swazifor women
What they eat
5 dishes, what they mean and when they appear.
Umqombothi
A thick, low-alcohol sorghum-and-maize beer, brewed over days and shared from a communal pot: the drink that calls the ancestors to a gathering.
Zulu · Xhosa · Shona +2
Amasi
Naturally fermented, thickened milk, tangy and slightly effervescent, traditionally left to sour in a calabash: a daily food and, historically, a measure of a homestead’s cattle wealth.
Zulu · Xhosa · Swazi +1
Brewed Maize Drink
Umcombotsi is a traditional maize drink that is brewed and fermented, giving it a sour taste. It is a popular beverage in Swazi culture.
Swazi
Boiled Meat Stew
Sidvudvu is a hearty boiled meat stew that is typically served on special occasions such as weddings and initiations. It is a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
Swazi
Traditional Flatbread
Siphupho is a traditional flatbread that is often served with various relishes or stews. It is a popular snack in Swazi culture.
Swazi
What they wear
1 piece, what it says and who may wear it.
Names from this tradition
13 names in the decoder, meaning first.
Ngwenya
machine draftThe crocodile: water, danger, and respect.
Surname & clanNdebele (Zimbabwe) & Swazi
Dlamini
machine draftThe royal Swazi clan; the most widely carried surname in the region.
Surname & clanSwazi & Zulu (Southern Africa)
Nkosi
machine draftKing, lord: both a title and a clan name.
Surname & clanZulu, Swazi & Ndebele (Southern Africa)
Sipho
machine draftA gift.
Given nameZulu, Xhosa & Swazi (Southern Africa)
Ntombi
machine draftgirl
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
Lindo
machine draftbeauty
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
Khaya
machine drafthome
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
Nosipho
machine draftgift
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
Nonhlanhla
machine draftluck
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
Muzi
machine draftharvest
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
Bheki
machine draftlook
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
Linda
machine draftbeautiful
Given nameSwazi (Eswatini)
