The festival takes its name from the riverbed reeds which are carried by the maidens in a procession several kilometres long and presented to the king in the Royal Enclosure.

The Reed Dance is a solemn occassion for the teenage girls but it is also an opportunity to show off their singing, dancing and beadwork - the fruits of many months of excitement and preparation.

Beadwork abounds and it is often the only clothing the maidens wear.

The girls are for the most part bare breasted and they wear the traditional beaded belt and frontal apron worn by virgins - the isigege.

The beadwork is in a range of intricate patterns and vivid colours, differing from region to region.

The older matrons, who oversee the event and instruct the young girls in their preparation for womanhood, are just as colourfully dressed with their ornate headdress and cowhide skirts.

The procession is usually led by princesses from the Royal Family who are the first to present their reeds to the king who is flanked by a full regiment of Zulu traditional leaders.

Visitors to the Reed Dance are warmly welcomed and - as one of the most colourful events on the South African cultural calendar - it provides an increasingly rare opportunity for visitors to see and experience such a vibrant traditional spectacle.

However, visitors would be well advised to note that as a major Zulu cultural event, the entire Royal Family is in attendance and certain aspects of protocol need to be observed.
Visitors wishing to witness the presentation of reeds by the maidens to the King will require a VIP pass to enter the Royal Enclosure.

These need to be obtained beforehand through one of several Tour Operators who offer tours to the event. In the past, women visitors wearing pants have been asked to leave the Royal Enclosure (usually by a policewoman wearing trousers) even though they are in possession of a visitor's VIP pass.

Photographing the maidens is tolerated and any visitor with a camera will be swamped by crowds of beaded maidens calling for their picture to be taken but please note that Tribal officials are sensitive to the decorum of the occassion and will act against any visitor deemed to be taking 'inappropriate' photographs.