SOUTH AFRICA: Thousands of South African Zulu maidens gather for annual festival

Record ID: 453758

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Thousands of South African Zulu maidens gather for annual festival
  • Date: 10th September 2007
  • Summary: (AD1) NONGOMA, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 8, 2007) (REUTERS) WIDE OF ZULU MAIDENS MARCHING CLOSE-UP OF BARE-BREASTED ZULU MAIDENS SINGING AND MARCHING WHILE CARRYING REEDS TO THE PALACE REEDS VARIOUS OF BARE-BREASTED ZULU MAIDENS MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (Zulu) ZULU MAIDEN, NINIZA MCHUNU, SAYING: "We will continue fighting for virginity testing. It is our culture, our values, we
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVABMHVTODTPRBU2ZGGBV5D92CC1
  • Story Text: The Zulu monarch has condemned the South African government for banning traditional virginity testing at an annual festival where Zulu maidens celebrate their chastity.
    In September every year thousands of Zulu maidens from all over the country gather outside the royal kraal, or household, in Nongoma for the Annual Reed Dance.
    On Saturday (September 8) the bare-breasted maidens descended on the kraal to perform for him a Reed Dance, a traditional initiation into womanhood. In the past custom required the king to select a bride from the virgins. This is no longer the case, unlike in the adjoining Kingdom of Swaziland.
    All the girls in the ceremony have had their virginity tested traditionally. The physical examination confirms there has been no penetrative sex.
    But a new South African law passed in July forbids virginity testing on girls under the age of 16, and allows it conditionally for those over 16. The decision has incensed many members of the Zulu community.
    "We will continue fighting for virginity testing. It is our culture, our values, we will continue fighting for it not to be stopped.
    Virginity testing has killed no one," says Nziza Mchunu, who is taking part in the Reed Dance.
    The current Zulu king - Goodwill Zwelithini - revived this ceremony in 1983 after it had been stopped by colonialists. His daughter, Princess Thembi Ndlovu, helps lead the procession. The reeds the maidens carry will be used in re-building the fence around the royal kraal. The Zulu believe any that breaks on the way to the king is proof that the girl carrying it wasn't a virgin.
    "It is very important because each year they carry the reeds to the Royal Kraal as a symbol of conquering the enemies that want to take their virginity," said Princess Thembi.
    King Zwelithini has said he will not to adhere to the new law because it goes against Zulu traditions. "We will neither apologise for our customs nor beg anyone for permission to practise them. Neither will we go to any government department to ask for permission to practise our culture,"
    he said.
    South Africa is struggling with one of the world's highest HIV/Aids infection rates. Many proponents of virginity testing say the practice is an effective way of fighting the disease because it promotes abstinence.
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