The Swazis are descendants of the Nguni tribe, who were cattle-herders who migrated southwards from central Africa, arriving in the region some time between the 12th and 14th centuries. The language of Swaziland, Seswati, is very similar to both Zulu and Xhosa, and there is a Swazi minority living in South Africa. Swaziland is an independent kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, who is widely revered, and the institution of the monarchy has contributed to the maintaining of many traditions that have been eroded elsewhere.
Although the towns of Swaziland are modern in appearance, rural life revolves around cattle, and there is a patriarchal system of headmen and village elders. The monarchy holds absolute power, with the king, who was educated at Sherbourne School in England, directly controlling the economy and government. Every year the entire nation swears loyalty to him at a ceremony called Ncwala. The Ncwala lasts four days, and selected="true" youths build a royal enclosure from acacia branches. On the third day, a bull is released, and the youths must catch and kill it using only their bare hands. Specially nominated water carriers are dispatched to the coast of Mozambique to collect foam from the waves of the Indian Ocean and bring it to the ceremony. On the final day of the ceremony, the enclosure, the royal possessions and household items are burned, and the king dances before his people. Enormous fires are lit on the surrounding hills, which ushers in the New Year. Spectators are allowed to witness parts of this extraordinary ceremony, but photography is forbidden.
The other great ceremony in Swaziland is the Umhlanga, or Reed Dance, which takes place each year and lasts for a week. The ceremony is a festival to mark the transition of unmarried girls into womanhood and eligibility for marriage, who carry reeds that they have cut for the ceremony. The king has the pick of the candidates, and young women related to the royal family, however tenuously, flaunt their connection by wearing purple lourie feathers in their hair.
The Swazi people have a long tradition of occultism and contact with the spirit world. There is a national training school for Inyangas (diviners) and Sangomas (traditional healers) which is sponsored by the government. Ancestor worship is widely practised, sometimes mixed with evangelical Christianity. Swaziland is also famed for its arts and crafts, and there are stalls and markets throughout the country selling sculptures, jewellery and traditional weapons such as spears and shields.