The iNcwala or First Fruits Ceremony in Swaziland (part 1)

The iNcwala or First Fruits Ceremony is the most important ceremony of the Swazi people. It usually takes place in December and it, among other things, affirms the Swazi identity and its kinship with the King. It signals the end of the old and the beginning of a new year when the first fruits of the new harvest may be eaten. The whole nation is involved with groups of men (called "bemanti", people of the water) walking to the different rivers and also the sea in Mozambique to collect water that will be ritually used later. There are various preliminary rituals that are known as "iNcwala lencane" (Small iNcwala).

The "iNcwala lenkhulu" (Big iNcwala) starts off when groups of young men set out from the Royal capital of Lobamba to collect "lusekwane", a shrub that will be used later to repair the "inhlambelo", the sacred enclosure in the "sibaya", the cattle enclosure where most ceremonies will take place. The men and boys who bring back the lusekwane must be "pure", meaning not yet having had sexual relations; if they had, their lusekwane would wilt when they bring it back and they will be the butt of jokes. They march with the "emabutfo", warriors regiments to the Royal residence of Lozitha first. All the way they sing a specific iNcwala song that is strictly taboo any other time of the year. Entering Lozitha the warriors give the Royal salute, in which they emit a piercing whistle while raising their large cowhide shield ("lihawu") above their heads. They dance and surge forwards, towards the King and other members of Swaziland's Royalty.

Later the men set off from Lozitha in a long file, loudly singing the iNcwala song. Towards dusk they reach the areas where the lusekwane grows and groups of men and boys sit next to the shrubs they want to claim. Only in the middle of the night they can pick them and they return to Lobamba, where they arrive again just after sunrise, an impressive sight: it seems a whole forest is moving....

Continuing....

	Leaving Lobamba	Arriving in Lozitha	King's Salute	iNcwala song
	Saluting the King	Leaving Lozitha	Going for lusekwane	Young men
	Young boy resting	Men with "sikhetja"	Back in Lobamba	Mthethwa warrior

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