NOMCEBO Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma, was officially confirmed as the fiancée of King Mswati III during Eswatini’s annual Reed Dance ceremony. The traditional event took place at the Ludzidzini Royal Village in Lobamba, drawing a crowd of around 5,000 participants and spectators.
The Reed Dance, a significant cultural event in Eswatini, is not only a rite of passage for young women but also serves as an occasion for King Mswati, 56, to announce his choice of a new wife. This year, the monarch selected Nomcebo Zuma as his fiancée, marking her as the latest addition to his already extensive royal household, which includes at least 14 wives and over 25 children.
Last week, Mswati’s brother had revealed that Nomcebo would attend the Reed Dance as the ‘liphovela,’ a term meaning royal fiancée or concubine. During the evening ceremony, Nomcebo joined hundreds of young women dressed in vibrant traditional attire, dancing before the king and other dignitaries.
Jacob Zuma, her father, is also known for his polygamous lifestyle, having at least 20 children. The 82-year-old former president, who was forced to resign in 2018 amidst corruption allegations, shares a similar cultural tradition with the Eswatini king.
The engagement has garnered attention across the region, highlighting the continued practice of polygamy in certain African royal and political circles.
