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Swazi women dance to catch king's eye
CNN ^ | Monday, August 29, 2005 | Reuters

Posted on 08/29/2005 8:02:33 PM PDT by F14 Pilot

Swaziland (Reuters) -- More than 50,000 bare-breasted virgins vied to become the king of Swaziland's 13th wife Monday in a ceremony that critics say ill befits a country with the world's highest HIV/AIDS rate.

King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch, is due to attend the annual Reed Dance ceremony, which he has used since 1999 to pluck new brides from thousands of dancing girls dressed in little more than beads and traditional skirts.

Clad in short beaded skirts and colorful tasseled scarves and carrying machetes, the girls sang tributes to the king while marching around the royal stadium flanked by male minders dressed in animal skin loincloths.

"I want to live a nice life, have money, be rich, have a BMW and cell phone," said one dancer, 16-year-old Zodwa Mamba. "But the king will not choose me, I am too ugly."

Critics say Mswati, who has courted controversy for his lavish lifestyle while two thirds of his subjects live in abject poverty, sets a bad example by encouraging polygamy and teenage sex in a country where 40 percent of adults live with HIV.

And some say the Reed Dance, traditionally meant to celebrate womanhood and virginity, has become little more than a showcase for the king's young would-be brides.

"The Reed Dance has been abused for one man's personal satisfaction," Mario Masuku, leader of the banned opposition party, told Reuters.

"The king has a passion for young women and opulence."

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africa; aids; awful; health; help; hiv; idiots; poor; royal; slavery; swazi; virgins
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To: NavVet

Gee, wonder what he missed in wife #12?

If one were to extrapolate the timeline required to examine 50,000 X 2 breasts with the median being, let's say 5 minutes per breast, how long would it take for this "king", "chief", "ruler",to make his choice?

The continent of Africa keeps getting darker.


21 posted on 08/29/2005 8:24:04 PM PDT by Hilltop
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To: Sun Soldier

Doesn't matter really in the end. See what happens when Hugh Heffner makes his annoucement for the next great Playboy playmate. Alpha male types all over the world regard sex the same way.


22 posted on 08/29/2005 8:25:08 PM PDT by cyborg (I'm having the best day ever.)
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To: Sun Soldier

That tiny country is a mere dictatorship!


23 posted on 08/29/2005 8:25:17 PM PDT by F14 Pilot (Democracy is a process not a product)
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Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: F14 Pilot
"I want to live a nice life, have money, be rich, have a BMW and cell phone," said one dancer, 16-year-old Zodwa Mamba. "But the king will not choose me, I am too ugly."

Keep the faith, Zodwa. After all, consider Hillary Clinton...

25 posted on 08/29/2005 8:26:49 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: fhayek

LOL!


26 posted on 08/29/2005 8:27:22 PM PDT by cyborg (I'm having the best day ever.)
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To: F14 Pilot

Here's the American version - notice the delight of the young men behind her.

27 posted on 08/29/2005 8:27:44 PM PDT by Troublemaker
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To: Troublemaker

what the...ummmmmm wow.


28 posted on 08/29/2005 8:28:24 PM PDT by cyborg (I'm having the best day ever.)
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To: Troublemaker

Eight beers, two bags...


29 posted on 08/29/2005 8:29:06 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: COEXERJ145

Damn; you beat me to it.


30 posted on 08/29/2005 8:30:20 PM PDT by RightOnline
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To: Troublemaker

lol


31 posted on 08/29/2005 8:30:23 PM PDT by F14 Pilot (Democracy is a process not a product)
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To: hugoball

Eldridge is the child that Ward never mentioned to Wally and the Beave.


32 posted on 08/29/2005 8:30:43 PM PDT by Clemenza (Proud "Free Traitor" & Capitalist Pig)
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To: F14 Pilot

"That tiny country is a mere dictatorship!"

Yes, but it's so typical of what the continent produces... famine, coups, and just plain weird stuff. This being in the weird stuff category.


33 posted on 08/29/2005 8:31:46 PM PDT by Sun Soldier
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To: Troublemaker

That is a great photo. Life Magazine material!


34 posted on 08/29/2005 8:31:59 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: F14 Pilot
Oh my goodness... With this, Bill Clinton would wish he was an African...No one in the United States will dance like that just to have the President as her husband...

even Monica wont dare do...///sarcasm

I'm thinking if the King will like this...:-)

35 posted on 08/29/2005 8:33:05 PM PDT by ChristianDefender (If you can't fight with M16/M4.. then use prayer, if not just choose whose side are You!)
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To: Troublemaker

Hahahah...Thanks for that photo..another item added to My Pictures database... Hilarious!


36 posted on 08/29/2005 8:36:35 PM PDT by ChristianDefender (If you can't fight with M16/M4.. then use prayer, if not just choose whose side are You!)
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To: cyborg

Helen Thomas, Barbara Mikulski and Maxine Watters just bought plane tickets!


37 posted on 08/29/2005 8:37:50 PM PDT by Prost1 (New AG, Berger is still free, copped a plea! I still get my news from FR!)
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To: ChristianDefender
Thanks for that photo

You're welcome. The reactions of the guys behind her are too funny.

38 posted on 08/29/2005 8:39:02 PM PDT by Troublemaker
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To: Prost1

check post 27


39 posted on 08/29/2005 8:40:45 PM PDT by cyborg (I'm having the best day ever.)
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To: Troublemaker

dude im dying here!!!!

LOL

my wife is cracking up too!! That's too funny!


40 posted on 08/29/2005 8:41:20 PM PDT by ovrtaxt (Fairtax.org)
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