Swaziland has been ruled by kingdoms all along. It's a landlocked country in Southern Africa and it's named after the 19th Century King Mswati II. The country borders South Africa and Mozambique. The country has been in the limelight recently for the Reed Festival conducted by the king annually. The Festival is becoming a major attraction to people who come to see beautiful maidens line up for a chance to be selected as the king's next wife. Out of the thousands of virgin maidens only one is selected.
Swaziland has also been made famous by archeologists who have excavated artifacts dating back to the early Stone Age period 200,000 years ago. Prehistoric rock art paintings that date from thousands years back have also been found. The country celebrates cultural events and the most important one is Incwala. It's held on the fourth day after the full moon on December 21. In English the name of the festival means first fruits ceremony'. The king starts by tasting the new harvests together with his long line of pageants.
Swaziland celebrates Incwala for four days. Every citizen is expected to take part. During the four day the climax of the ceremony is held and is refereed to as Big Incwala'. The whole of the royal family and other small readers must be present and they conduct the ceremony thorough entertainment provided by the local community groups. The country is the best to witness how African kings conducted their traditions and exercised authority. The Reed Festivals take almost eight days.