BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– Since His Majesty King Mswati III has summoned the Lutsango regiment for the first session of the Buganu Ceremony to be held from February 24 to February 26, 2023, at Buhleni Royal Residence, a number of tourists are expected to visit the country.
The tourism industry is set to thrive seeing that this year, the Buganu ceremony will be without COVID-19 restrictions, therefore, attracting a large number of people from outside Eswatini and further improving domestic tourism.
Yesterday, an announcement was made by Indvuna yeLutsango Lontfombi Ndzimandze at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.
According to the leader of the Hhohho regiment, Lutsango is expected to present their gifts before their Majesties on Friday, February 24, 2023, with the main festivities, including singing and dancing on the second day (Saturday) and on Sunday Lutsango will be dispersed.
Conversely, the Minister for Home Affairs Her Royal Highness Princess Lindiwe also announced, on behalf of Their Majesties, that the dress code is orange cotton lihiya on Saturday and red lihiya on Sunday respectively. The Minister also cautioned Lutsango from wearing colorful clothing.
February, in the Kingdom of Eswatini, marks the start of the Marula season which runs throughout the month of love up until March.
The Marula fruit is collected and brewed into a delicious beer known as Buganu. Households then convene at the Buhleni Royal residence for the Buganu festival to present their homebrew to the King and Queen mother.
Last year tourists came in numbers to attend the Buganu ceremony and left amazed by the Eswatini culture. Minister of Tourism Moses Vilakati said he was happy with the fact that the ceremony was gaining momentum internationally.
“For the Hlane Buganu, we focus on tourists from Mpumalanga, South Africa as well as those from Mozambique, hence we are more than pleased with to welcome more tourists from Mozambique because it proves that our efforts are effective, and this is in line with our plans for the year which are to market our country fully available to media houses outside the country,” he said. The ceremony finishes at night when His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Indlovukazi are joined by Lutsango on the final day for song and dance.
