Incwala

Incwala is the main ritual of Kingship in the Kingdom of Swaziland. This is a national event that takes place during the summer solstice. The main person in incwala is the King of Swaziland; when there is no king there is no incwala. Incwala takes place over a period of time of about a month, starting with the small incwala, incwala lencane, and culminating in the big incwala, incwala lenkhulu. A number of activities — such as lusekwane, kuhlamahlama, and umdvutjulwa — mark the key events of this age old tradition.

The incwala ritual is controlled by national priests known as Bemanti (people of the water), or Belwandle (people of the sea), because they fetch river- and sea-water to strengthen the King. The leader of these men is a chief of the Ndwandwe clan who is assisted by other male relatives. Another leader is of the Ndwandwe clan from the Elwandle royal village. These men go and fetch water and herbs respectively in the nation's rivers and the sea. The other important individuals are tinsila (artificial blood-brothers of the king), and especially the left-hand insila, who shadow the King throughout the performance. On the other hand, the princes and hereditary chiefs who do not belong to the royal (Dlamini) clan are never in close contact with him. The princes should, however, be present, but they cannot enter the sanctuary at the crucial moment of the ritual. Certain chiefs, other than Dlamini, may not attend the incwala for they are so powerful that their personality might fight that of the King and injure him. By their exclusion they accept the supremacy of the Dlamini, and show their relative independence in their own local ceremonies. Some of their subjects, however, must attend. Finally, the regiments, the rank and file of the nation play a major part in the public ceremonies and are quartered in barracks in the capital for the duration of the Incwala. The rank and file of the nation, the majority of the participants, arrive in local contingents led by their chief or his representative. They come to support kingship. The duty of organizing the whole ceremony, seeing that it is held on the correct date, preparing the utensils, providing the requisite ingredients, and informing the nation devolves on the governors of the royal villages, and the mobilizing for each scene of the drama belongs to the regimental officials.

In the earliest stage, the Bemanti set out with sacred vessels to the sea, a little south of Maputo in neighbouring Mozambique, and another group, to the rivers Lusutfu, Komanzi, and Mbuluzi. The departure is a festive occasion. When the Bemanti meet any Swazi on the journey they pillage (kuhlamahlama) the country-side and take any beer they find in the huts. The fines are very light: a pin, grass bracelet, small coin, or other trifle that has been in contact with the person can be offered. Any tendency to exact exorbitant fines, such as a new hat or jacket, is discouraged. If a man has no small object with him, he may later bring an exchange for the first offering. Wherever they go the Bemanti are treated with the utmost respect. At each home where they sleep a beast is killed and the tail tied round the vessel. To the Swazi who live in outlying districts, their visit is a sign that the Incwala is close at hand, and chiefs often give money and see that the Bemanti receive large bowls of beer since they are eager to help 'support the work of kings '.

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Wikipedia