African People & Cultures: 4 of the Best Eswatini Festivals

Steeped in rich culture and tradition, this small African kingdom is a haven for festivities that celebrate its heritage. From the iconic Umhlanga Reed Dance to the exhilarating Buganu Festival, the Incwala Ceremony, and the forging of new traditions through the Bushfire Festival, the Kingdom of Eswatini has a wealth of cultural offerings that perfectly complement its safari destinations and idyllic scenery. Let's dig a little deeper into Eswatini’s cultural heritage, and look at some of Africa’s most colourful celebrations.

1. The Umhlanga Reed Dance

The Umhlanga Reed Dance is a renowned traditional ceremony in Eswatini that attracts tens of thousands of Swazi people and visitors from around the world. This vibrant festival has remained popular despite declining global interest in indigenous ceremonies. Featuring traditional attire, ceremonies, and dancing, the Reed Dance offers an authentic glimpse into Swazi traditions and is a highlight of the cultural calendar.

What is the Reed Dance all about?

Traditionally, Eswatini’s Reed Dance serves to entrench the cultural values of abstinence and chastity before marriage, show allegiance to the Queen Mother through a symbolic gesture of labour, and strengthen Swazi cultural bonds. The festival was adapted in 1941 from the much older umcwasho ceremony.

The Umhlanga - The Royal Command Uyezwa na! (Do you hear!)

The royal command, “Uyezwa na!” (Do you hear!), announced over the radio, heralds the start of the Umhlanga festival season. The festival takes place over 8 days, but preparations and excitement build around the kingdom from the announcement of the dates a few weeks before the event. The event is steeped in Swati cultural heritage and involves a mix of pageantry, song, dance, and contemporary issues.

The Umhlanga Reed Dance Festival follows a set pattern of events. It begins with the aggregation of unmarried Swati girls and women around the Ludzidzini Royal Village, which is the residence of the Queen Mother (Indlovukazi). The girls then walk or are transported to harvest the tall reeds which, after a full day of rest and finalization of outfits, are presented to Indlovukazi on days 6 and 7. After presenting the reeds, the girls and women proceed to the main arena in their age regiments, where they dance for the royal dignitaries. Day 7 is the peak of festivities when the king himself is present. On day 8, the king announces the slaughtering of animals to feed the participants, who then return home, concluding the Umhlanga Festivities for another year.

The best day for tourists wanting to witness the spectacle of the regiments of girls and women, dancing and singing and ululating, is day 7. There are no special visitor arrangements and tourists simply turn up at Ludzidizini and follow the crowds. Police will direct you where to go, and where to park. The event takes place around the last week of August or the first week of September in the Lobamba area, next to the Ezulwini Valley.

The Reed Dance Today

In today’s digital age, the Umhlanga Reed Dance is not without its detractors and controversy. There are questions raised about the objectification of young women and girls, in a patriarchal polygamous society that boasts the highest rate of HIV infection in Africa.

However, Swati culture is both robust and adaptable. Today’s Reed dance attempts to blend contemporary issues with traditional values. The reeds that are cut are used to remake the protective fence of the Queen Mother's residence, a symbolic gesture of allegiance, which espouses the values of chastity, and fosters solidarity through hard work. A big part of the modern festival revolves around HIV education, and these themes are often reflected in the songs sung by the different regiments. Traditionally the Umhlanga was used by the king to select a new wife, but the last time this happened was in 2015 which resulted in public outcry.

The Kingdom of Eswatini’s Umhlanga Reed Dance is a fascinating and unique African festival. Seeing up to 40,000 girls and women, dressed up in brightly coloured attire, and being immersed in the cacophony of stamping ankle bracelets and singing can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. This is Eswatini’s biggest holiday, and a festival worth exploring.

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2. The Incwala Harvest Festival

The Incwala Harvest Festival, held in December and January, is a significant cultural event in Eswatini. It celebrates the first fruits of the harvest and marks the beginning of a new year. The festival involves various rituals, dances, and ceremonies, symbolizing the renewal of the land and the unity of the Swazi people. It is a time of reflection, gratitude, and communal celebration.

What is the Incwala Festival About?

The Incwala festival is the most significant cultural event in Eswatini. With a history spanning hundreds of years. The festival holds spiritual power that is often not fully grasped by outsiders, and many aspects of its rituals remain veiled in secrecy. While it is commonly translated as the "first fruits festival," the tasting of the season's initial harvest is just one element of this extensive rite. Above all, the Incwala is a celebration of kingship, cleansing, and renewal.

The schedule of the Big Incwala spans several days. Unmarried Swati male youths embark on a 50km march to collect branches of the sacred shrub under the full moon on day 1. Day 2 involves placing these branches in the national cattle byre, where they are woven into the King's private sanctuary. On Day 3, young boys add branches of the black "Imbondvo" to the sanctuary after overpowering a bull and returning it to the byre. The highlight is on Day 4, the main day when the King, regiments, and warriors don their full battle regalia and perform a spectacular pageant inside the cattle byre. The King throws the sacred gourd, caught by one of the Lusekwane boys. Day 5 is a day of abstinence, where the King goes into seclusion, and strict rules are enforced. The festival concludes on day 6, as regiments march to collect firewood, and a symbolic fire signifies the end of the old year. The King remains in seclusion until the next full moon when the Lusekwane branches are removed and burnt, marking the festival's conclusion.

Incwala Festival Today

Today, the Incwala Festival is the most important festival in Eswatini’s calendar. The Incwala is a cornerstone of Eswatini’s proud cultural heritage, and it is believed that every Swati man should attend at least one Incwala festival in their life. The Incwala Festival serves to reinforce the Swati national identity and cultural unity.

Although not explicitly designed for tourism, visitors interested in Eswatini's culture are warmly welcomed. Photography and recording of secretive rituals are strictly prohibited, and special permits are required for photography during other festival days. However, while certain days require total privacy for the nation, Day 4, the climax of the celebration is the best for visitors.

The Incwala festival takes place around the last week of December or the first week of January, though the exact dates are determined based on ancestral astrology, and are typically announced closer to the event. The festival unfolds in various locations throughout Eswatini, with the main event taking place at Lobamba, and lies within the Ezulwini Valley.

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3. The Marula Festival

The Marula or Buganu Festival takes place from February to March and pays homage to the marula fruit, a beloved and culturally significant symbol in Eswatini. This lively festival showcases traditional music, dance, and performances, accompanied by the enjoyment of marula-based drinks and delicacies.

What is the Marula Festival all about?

In Eswatini, the Marula season brings forth a celebration of the harvest of the Marula fruit. Once the green fruits fall to the ground, they are collected by women and children who store them until they ripen to a creamy yellow colour. The fruits are then fermented in water with the addition of sugar, resulting in a potent alcoholic mixture known as marula beer or buganu.

The festival, known locally as ‘Emaganwini’, kicks off when the Queen Mother arrives at the Ebuhleni Royal Residence. The women of the area, dressed in colourful traditional attire, present marula fruit harvested in the previous week. Day 2 sees the arrival of the King, and the Umganu, Marula Beer, is presented to the royals who sample the brew, and subsequently declare the season open. Much celebration ensues with songs and dances specific to the occasion. Once the royals have declared the season open, the buganu is officially blessed and may be consumed nationwide. There is a second event that takes place at His Majesty’s Hlane Royal Residence that observes similar rituals.

The Marula Festival Today

The Marula season usually runs from February to May, and the official festival dates fall in February and March. In Eswatini, the Marula fruit holds significance that transcends its importance as a food source, and the marula is regarded as a magical healing ingredient with potent fertility properties. In recent years the marula fruit has expanded beyond the beverage market and has been transformed by Swati Secrets, a not-for-profit community-run organization initiated by the Queen Mother. Swati Secrets produces beauty products derived from the marula fruit. However, at its heart, the Marula Festival is a celebration of Buganu, and an excuse for much merry-making.

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4. The MTN Bush Fire Festival

With a global infusion, an authentic African essence, and a proud Eswatini identity, MTN Bushfire stands as one of Africa's most expansive multicultural gatherings. Its purpose is to illuminate the profound transformative influence of the arts, rallying individuals towards positive societal and environmental change under the banner of #BRINGYOURFIRE. This diverse, inclusive, and family-friendly music and arts festival unfolds within a fantastical realm of imagination, nestled amidst the serene Malkerns Valley's breathtaking farmland and mountains.

What is MTN Bush Fire about?

Each year, at the end of May, Fire Starters from over 60 countries gather to experience an invigorating and uplifting weekend, immersed in an eclectic program showcasing exceptional musical and artistic talents hailing from Africa and beyond.

MTN Bushfire embodies a conscious celebration of unity amid diversity, serving as an inspiring symbol of social inclusion. It manifests the world we aspire to witness—a global community of change-makers, thought leaders, and creative problem solvers, joining forces to honour the arts while taking a stand against discrimination, environmental degradation, and poverty.

Building upon the ethos and triumphs of the esteemed entertainment venue, House On Fire, the inaugural Bushfire festival took place in 2007. Serving as an organic and progressive extension, this event not only provided a much-needed platform to nurture and cultivate the arts in Eswatini but also emerged as a catalyst for creative activism. Visionary founders Jiggs and Sholto Thorne recognized the festival's potential in raising awareness and sparking discussions surrounding pressing social, and environmental issues. The #BRINGYOURFIRE movement was born—a resounding call to action, urging individuals to engage in positive social transformation collectively.

MTN Bush Fire today

In 2012, MTN Eswatini stepped forward as the festival's title sponsor, cementing their commitment to bolstering the growth of the arts industry within Eswatini. After a COVID-enforced hiatus, the festival returned in 2022, and again in 2023. Over 20,000 attendees "bring their fire" to experience an eclectic lineup of live music, theatre, poetry, film, circus, dance, and visual arts, showcasing both Pan-African and international talent. The festival is family-friendly, and in addition to performances, offers a vibrant handcraft market, a KidZone, and the expansion of an interactive art and dialogue space—creating a truly enchanting three-day entertainment experience.

Towards the end of May, all of Eswatini is booked out with revellers, so it is best to plan ahead and book early.

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Travel to Eswatini

When you travel to the Kingdom of Eswatini, it’s worth squeezing in at least one of Eswatini's best festivals. Part of Eswatini’s unique appeal is the warm and friendly people with a deep pride in the heritage of their tiny nation. The festivals are part of the expression of this pride both old and new, and no trip to Eswatini is complete without engaging with this spirit of celebration. You can see African Budget Safaris Eswatini Tours here.