In a vibrant celebration of tradition and culture, Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma, confirmed her engagement to King Mswati III of Eswatini during the annual Reed Dance ceremony on Monday.
The event, held at the Ludzidzini Royal Village, attracted around 5,000 attendees, including hundreds of women and girls who danced for the monarch. The Reed Dance, a days-long celebration, serves both as a rite of passage for young women and an opportunity for King Mswati, 56, to choose a new wife. The king, who already has at least 14 wives and 25 children, has historically selected brides from among the dancers.
Nomcebo Zuma’s participation as the “liphovela” (royal fiancée) was announced last week by Mswati’s brother. During the evening ceremony, she joined other young women in colourful traditional attire, some carrying imitation swords and shields, as they performed before the king and his entourage, as confirmed by TRT Africa and The Guardian UK.
Jacob Zuma, 82, who has at least 20 children and was forced to resign as South Africa’s president in 2018 amid corruption allegations, is also known for his polygamous lifestyle. The engagement of Nomcebo Zuma to King Mswati III signifies a remarkable union between two prominent African families, both rich in tradition and shadowed by controversy.
In a touching story shared by Legit.ng, a young woman named Miracle Pogue from Starkville, Mississippi, USA, recently married her 85-year-old partner, Charles Pogue, despite their 61-year age difference. Charles, a retired real estate professional, first met his much younger wife in 2019 at a laundromat, where their friendship blossomed into love.
