Swati reed dance: Abstain is the only refrain
Kim Johnson
30 August 2011
Media reports of sex at the traditional Swazi reed dance beg the question: Should certain cultural practices change in the context of HIV?
The Times reports that the thousands of young women who flock to the annual celebration in hopes of being welcomed into the ranks of Swazi royalty, are often met by unscrupulous men who see the ceremony as an opportunity to have a 'good time.'
The men quoted in the newspaper reportedly pick and choose from the virgins in attendance, luring them outside the fenced encampment, which the girls call home during the festivities.
Sneaky sexual activities are so common at the annual ceremony that a nearby hot spring which plays host to late night romps is known as the “cuddle puddle.”
In spite of such blatant indications that girls attending the annual ceremony are having sex instead of abstaining as their culture dictates, The Times reports that the promotion of condoms at the festival is forbidden.
The dangers of not adopting a well-rounded or comprehensive approach to safe sex messaging are clear; young women are left without any knowledge of how to have safe sex and are unable to protect themselves in a context where over a quarter of people over the age of 15 are HIV-positive.
Cultural practices are often thought to be timeless and unquestionable in nature. Resorting to the answer, “It is my/our culture” is a sure way stop critics of any practice in their tracks, or at least make it a lot harder to mount an argument.
However when there are clear indications that the cultural practices of a society are at odds with the health of its people, leaders and members of the public need to be open to change.
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