Umkhosi wokweswama is the annual harvest festival of the Zulu people, observed around the December solstice. It usually takes place at the Royal Palace (Enyokeni) Nongoma in KwaZulu-Natal and is presided over by the Zulu King. The king conducts a tasting ceremony as a sacred king, closed dashing of calabash to signify that the people may now enjoy the fruits of the harvest.
This ceremony is important because there is a strong belief that it strengthens the King and his Kingdom. The Zulu monarch uses this opportunity to talk to the nation, especially to young men and old focusing on issues such as fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS, moral regeneration, preventing the abuse of women and children within their communities and fighting poverty. He further addresses men on how they should conduct themselves.as the heads of their families and role models in their communities. He encourages them to lead in agricultural activities in order to fight poverty, but then at the end everyone who came to the celebration enjoys fruits, traditional dance and music.
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