Big send-off for maidens

MAIDENS from all corners of the uMhlathuze district were gathered at the Hlanganani Community Hall in eSikhaleni on Saturday for a send-off ceremony for the annualuMkhosi WoMhlanga.

The annual traditional reed dance ritual will be held on Friday and Saturday at King Goodwill Zwelithini’s Enyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma.

Busloads of girls singing traditional Zulu songs drove through the township on Saturday morning as they headed to the community hall, painting it red.

Clad in their finest attire, the different groups of maidens, led by their amagosa (leaders) took turns singing and dancing ingoma to entertain the spectators, and showcasing their pride of being the nation’s pure flowers.

Queen MaMchiza appealed to all municipalities in the King Cetshwayo District to hold such send-off events to cater for those maidens who won’t be able to attend the Nongoma event.

Inkosi Dube wished the maidens good fortune and safety on the roads.

Advising the girls about the dangers of underage sex, LifeLine Zululand’s S’lindile Dube said, ‘Avoid temptations of the blessers. Don’t allow yourselves to be used by older men, but keep yourselves pure so you become future mothers of the nation.’

They were also alerted to the risk of HIV/Aids.

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