A common tradition in Swaziland (Swazi) permits the King, Mswati, to choose a new bride every year. This is done in a festival named Swazi Reed Dance Festival where girls are paraded and tested publicly to know their virginity status. It has been a long time tradition in Swaziland and not the first time this controversial issue is making it into the news. Although, many consider this barbaric and backward, it’s a tradition the people willingly embrace as the aim is to help King Mswati choose a wife. As part of Swazi custom and norms, that time of the year has come, when the King chooses his bride and again, he has reportedly tested some of the volunteered girls’ virginity before choosing a wife for himself. Thousands of pretty virgins’ were seen in this year’s edition dancing topless for King Mswati III, on what is called the Reed Dance ceremony, also known as Umhlanga), hoping to be his next wife. The Reed Dance ceremony is an annual Swazi and Zulu tradition hel
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