Shembe maidens face backlash over topless Reed Dance - IOL

Nazareth Baptist Church maidens carry twigs from the Ntanda forest during their vow of virginity ceremony. Some have faced backlash after participating in last weekend's Reed Dance in Phongolo, which fell on the Sabbath, a day of humility, prayer and fasting.

Some members of the Nazareth Baptist Church, popularly known as the Shembe Church, have expressed disapproval of church members who participated as young maidens in the recent uMkhosi woMhlanga (Reed Dance) in eMashobeni Royal Palace in Phongolo.

Social media was awash with comments ranging from shock to condemnation, with some church members questioning the participation of Shembe maidens who went topless during the ceremony.

The Reed Dance celebrates young women's chastity and is traditionally associated with maidens wearing traditional attire, including bare breasts.

Some critics referred to the church's rules in Book 25, which they said require young virgin women members to observe modesty and not walk around naked on the Sabbath.

Tamia Bhosula said she was shocked after seeing on TikTok that some Shembe virgins who attend the church's maiden ceremony at Mount Ntanda also participated in the Reed Dance.

"This really made me think that you are maiden who chose Shembe, how can you go about doing something that is against the Sabbath? I mean, even if you face a compelling situation preventing you from going to church, you remain dignified and do not socialise. Yet you, a maiden, and you are also a participant at the Reed Dance, you celebrate, make noise, and go topless during the Sabbath! Which Shembe do you serve?"

Bhosula cited an incident involving the leader of the eBuhleni faction, Mduduzi "Nyazilwezulu" Shembe, who did not attend King Misuzulu kaZwelithini's formal coronation at Moses Mabhida Stadium on October 29, 2022, because it fell on the Sabbath.

"He stood up and spoke from the pulpit, saying that he also wanted to go celebrate at (Moses) Mabhida, and he also said 'but because I am a prisoner, I am bound by the Sabbath, I cannot'."

She said Shembe subsequently prayed for the coronation to go well.

"What is the pardon for breaking the Sabbath by going to the Reed Dance?" asked Bhosula.

Some of the Nazareth Baptist Church maidens carry twigs from the Ntanda forest. The participation of some in the recent Reed Dance Festival in Phongolo has sparked controversy over their going topless and taking part in a celebratory ceremony during the church's Sabbath.

She argued that even if participants did not eat hot food or drink hot beverages during the Reed Dance, they had already broken the Sabbath by going topless on what she described as a day of humility and worship.

Sphelele Mpangazitha supported Bhosula's position.

Sabatha Mtshali said he strongly agreed with Bhosula. He said young female members of the church who remained pure waited for a blessing from the church's leader after laying down their twigs when they returned from the forest at Ntanda, marking their vow of virginity.

Some church members also raised concerns about women wearing trousers and artificial hair such as weaves.

However, Thokozani Mncwabe, spokesperson for the eBuhleni faction of the Shembe Church, said people should distinguish between the church's rules and those governing people's private lives.

"The Reed Dance is open to the entire nation, (the Shembe virgins) attend when they get a chance."

Mncwabe said trousers could not be worn in church or the temple, while artificial hair was also prohibited in temples.

"The church's rule when it comes to temples is that the church does not interfere in a person's private affairs. It's up to the parent to decide what they want from their child, but in temples there is a rule. You can't just go to the temple topless, you wear headwrap and cover themselves with an umnazaretha (cassock-like robe worn by members of the church)," said Mncwabe.

The Shembe Church's rules are closely aligned with Zulu culture and permit polygamy. The consumption of hot meals during the Sabbath (Saturday) is prohibited, while pork and alcohol are also strictly forbidden. The church encourages unmarried young women to observe celibacy.