Eswatini Maidens Mud Dance Brown Cowhide Action Means Strength Joy #shorts #zuluculture

Eswatini maidens during Umhlanga or Buganu Festival at Ludzidzini or Buhleni royal village dancing in muddy grass field after rain with stage behind having large elephant tusks decorations and yellow banners and crowd watching, central maiden in focus wearing brown cowhide crop top ligcebesha and small brown cowhide skirt with beaded edge emagcebesha and gold thick neck rings idzila meaning wealth and married women's pride but here worn by maidens for ceremony and white beaded leg bands with gold bracelets and beaded top bun with white beads, action teaching focus is ukugiya high leg lift with knee bent and arm raised showing strength balance fitness and pride not just dance, action of turning back showing full back and small skirt shows that attire is minimal to show leg work and ankle rattles and that muddy feet mean rain blessed ceremony called litsemba and that dancing in mud shows connection to earth and not afraid of dirt, action of arm raised fist means calling ancestors and victory and joy, action of smiling and looking at camera shows confidence and teaching audience that Eswatini maidens dance with joy despite muddy field and that group dance in circle means sisterhood unity and support, brown cowhide means connection to cattle wealth and ancestors and gold idzila means prosperity.