The Traditional Custom1 of Chastity and Sexual Restraint in the Education of the Young Swazi Girl

This article deals with the traditional custom of chastity and sexual restraint of the Swazi people, living in a ‘tiny kindom ’ in Southern Africa under the current leadership of King Mswati III. The custom, referred to as Umcwasho, is a custom that forbids young, unmarried females engaging in any form of sexual activity for a specified period, the length of which is determined by the king. The Swazi people are known to be very strict and conservative, and traditionally permit only a restricted form of sexual activity among the young who have reached puberty. Swazi parents grant their teenagers no free sexual experimentation whatsoever. Parents, at all times, call upon restricted and inhibited sexual behaviour, which means that they will allow, ‘at the utmost’ only external intercourse and sex play. The maintenance of virginity in both boys and girls is above all treasured and extremely highly valued. The above facts and the supposed impact thereof on young people contributed to determine the aim and focus of this research, namely, to determine what the custom of chastity and sexual restraint in Swazi culture entail, and what meaning and value the Swazi people attach to this type of traditional education. The value and importance of the custom of chastity and sexual restraint, that falls under the jurisdiction of the King himself became obvious during the course of this research. From the results of the study it is understood that not only the observation of the custom, but particularly the meaning thereof, are highly valued and respected by the nation. 320 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ‘Close-knit ’ and conventional fabric of Swazi society Swaziland2 is a small country and a ‘tiny kingdom ’ in Southern Africa under the current leadership of King Mswati III (Ruscombe