Swaziland Women. The reed dance, takes place in September, involves young, unmarried Swaziland women and girls who travel to the royal kraal to honour the Queen Mother and perform the traditional reed dances.

Swaziland People
The majority of the people in Swaziland are ethnic Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulus and non-Africans. Traditionally Swaziland women and men have been subsistence farmers and herders, but most now work in the growing urban formal economy and in the government. Still some of the Swazi people work in the mines in South Africa, the country that surrounds Swaziland. Christianity in Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs.

The country's official languages are Siswati (a language related to Zulu) and English. Government and commercial business is conducted mainly in English.

Traditions
Old Swaziland traditions are carefully guarded and colourful ceremonies frequently take place to mark special occasions. There are two rituals: the Umhlanga (reed dance) and the Incwala (first fruits ceremony). The reed dance, takes place in September, involves young, unmarried Swaziland women and girls who travel to the royal kraal to honour the Queen Mother and perform the traditional reed dances. On the way, they gather reeds and it is from this custom that the ceremony derives its name.

By tradition Swaziland people are a polygamous society and men may take several Swaziland women as their wives on payment of a dowry (lobola), which normally entails giving cattle to the brides parents.