Swazi Lifestyle: Traditional Attire

SNTC, 2000.

There is a wide range of traditional attire related to different cultural ceremonies, as well as day-to-day usage. Traditional attire is specific to gender and age group, and some items are only to be worn during specific traditional ceremonies, such as the incwala or the umhlanga (reed dance).

Traditional attire for daily use

	Age: up to 3 months both male and female wear only protective medicines
	Age: 3 months to 3 years
	males wear tiny loin skin	females wear nothing or string of beads

	Age: 3 to 8 years
	males wear loin skin	females wear string of beads and skirt of grass or cloth

Age: 8 to 17 years males wear loin skin and start to wear penis cap

Age: 8 to 15 years females wear skirt of grass or skirt and short toga of cloth, never long; bead necklaces

	Age: Unmarried adults
	males wear loin skins and cloth, bead ornaments	females wear a dress of cloth, hair up, but in a small bun

	Age: Married adults
	males wear loin skin, cloths	females: newly-weds wear skin apron and skin skirt, apron worn under the armpits; after birth of first child, raises apron over one shoulder; hair in a bun

	Age: Grandparents
	males wear loin skin, cloths and head ring	females wear goatskin and cloths, hair in bun