Africa-Press – Eswatini. His Majesty King Mswati III is expected to commission Ingatja to fetch the sacred shrubs known as Lusekwane in the afternoon today.
The commissioning of Ingatja today would mean Incwala would tentatively be on Saturday. Incwala Ceremony is an event in which emaSwati gather inside Ludzidzini Cattle Byre to commemorate the harvest of the first fruit. The nation also celebrates peace and stability, which had prevailed since the country gained its independence from Britain in 1968.
Determined
The day of the event, which is determined by the phase of the moon, is so significant that it is declared a public holiday. However, the declaration of the public holiday is vested in the Ministry of Home Affairs, through a mandate from the King, who is the custodian of Eswatini culture. Normally, the public holiday is declared on the day of the commissioning of Ingatja.
The commissioning of Ingatja comes after the completion of the Little Incwala, which commenced at the primary royal residence before it moved to the other royal residences across the country, until it reached Buhleni Royal Residence.
On Christmas Day, the King commissioned Ingatja and regiments from the Hhohho Region to assembly at Ngabezweni Royal Residence in readiness for commissioning today. Worth noting is that the regiments from the Hhohho Region spent a night at Ntsanjeni Royal Kraal, before they met the other regiments, from the other regions at Ngabezweni yesterday. During commissioning, the King and the regiments accompany the young boys to the place where they fetch the shrubs at moonrise. Ingatja then travels several kilometres to Ludzidzini Royal Residence to deliver the shrubs inside the cattle byre. On the following day, the King commission Ingatja to fetch red leaves known as Imbondvo. The young boys would also be afforded the opportunity to show their bravery through the killing of a bull without using weapons after fetching the red leaves.
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