The Zulu royal family has dismissed growing criticism over the practice of virginity testing on girls under the age of 16, saying opponents are seeking to undermine one of the Zulu nation’s most ...

Last week, thousands of Zulu maidens descended on the eMashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola to take part in Umkhosi woMhlanga, the Reed Dance, which is one of South Africa’s most sacred and striking ...

Zulu maidens under the KwaFodo Traditional Authority in the Gugwini area, outside Harding, are ready for the annual Umkhosi Womhlanga (Reed Dance) to be held in KwaNongoma on September 13 and 14.

Swazi maidens deliver their reeds that they cut to the King Mswati III of Swaziland on Aug. 31. EPA/IHSAAN HAFFEJEE JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s annual Zulu Reed Dance ceremony was disrupted by ...

Young women, known locally in the KwaZulu-Natal province as "maidens", participate in a traditional "reed dance", an age-old annual ceremony in celebration of sexual purity and promotion of sexual ...

Thousands of maidens attended the ceremony. KwaZulu-Natal DA leader Francois Rodgers said the king's words showed that he is a responsible leader who cares for the safety of young girls. "He made it ...

Every year, thousands of young girls arrive at the Zulu King Palace in Nongoma and have already undergone virginity testing in their districts throughout the province in a bid to get married to the ...

Maidens sing as they proudly carry the ceremonial reed. Photo: Le2snaps. Singing, jubilation and traditional Zulu culture were on full display at the annual Reed Dance, held from September 12 to 14 at ...