Last week in Swaziland, young women paraded before the king in the annual Reed Dance, wondering if he would choose one of them to be his next wife. But many of the girls did not want to be there ...

Swaziland King Mswati III (C) arrives fpr the first day of the annual royal reed dance at the Ludzidzini Royal palace on Aug. 30, 2015 in Lobamba, Swaziland.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 28, 2009 — -- Every year around 75,000 young women in Swaziland flock to its capital to participate in the Reed festival, in which bare-chested virgins cut off a reed and ...

LUDZIDZINI ROYAL VILLAGE, Swaziland (Reuters) – Thousands of bare-breasted young Swazi women paraded in front of their king to celebrate chastity and unity, dismissing criticism of the lavish… ...

LUDZIDZINI ROYAL VILLAGE, Swaziland (Reuters) – Thousands of bare-breasted young Swazi women paraded in front of their king to celebrate chastity and unity, dismissing criticism of the lavish… ...

LUDZIDZINI ROYAL VILLAGE, Swaziland (Reuters) – Thousands of bare-breasted young Swazi women paraded in front of their king to celebrate chastity and unity, dismissing criticism of the lavish… ...

Swaziland is one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies. It has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 after he took over from his father, King Sobhuza II, who reigned for 60 years.

The cultural dance This year, festivities are expected to take place around August 29 -September 4. As with every year, the festival attracts thousands of visitors and young girls alike.

Dozens of women killed in crash en route to King of Swaziland's dancing virgin festival. King Mswati III has refused to cancel his annual reed dance after the truck accident on Friday ...

However, in 2007 the Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, broke the secrecy when it reported on the mass whipping of young men during the Reed Dance.

Easily one of the more important ceremonies to take place in the Kingdom of Swaziland, the annual reed dance attracts it's fair share of tourists to the small southern african nation. Thursday ...