King Mswati: chooses topless bride

There is a common tradition in Swaziland (Swazi) that permits the King, Mswati III, to choose a new bride in August every year. According to reports by Talk Africa, it has been a long time tradition in Swaziland and it is not the first time this controversial issue is making it into the news.

The Zwazi virgins

In 2012, Dailymail reported that topless virgins were paraded in front of the Swazi King, to celebrate chastity and unity.

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 the girls’ virginity before choosing a wife for himself.

The king Chooses his bride during the the Reed Dance ceremony, known as Umhlanga which reveals thousands of Swaziland’s ‘prettiest virgins’ dancing topless for King Mswati , every August, hoping to be his next wife.

As the story goes, underaged girls are being publicly checked to ascertain that their virginity was still intact.

Also reported by The Post