Portraits of Swaziland

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Portraits of Swaziland

Dignified and handsome, Swazi people were a great subject for portrait photography and were always more than happy to pose for the camera.

Swazi woman
 
Woman of Mbabane
 
Sangoma of Msunduza
 
Elderly Swazi man
 
Mthethwa clansman
 
Smiling sangoma
 
Married woman
 
Swazi profile
 
Traditional hairstyle
 
 
Man wearing
 
iNcwala dress
 
Mrs. Malinga
 
Sakabula headdress
 
Traditional
 
Young married woman
 
Young woman
 
School teacher
 
Young Swazi man
 
Dlamini clansman
 
Man from Mashobeni
 
 
Pastor, Nazareth church
 
Nazareth church woman
 
Young woman
 
Man of Ntonjeni
 
Woman of Ntonjeni
 
Bleached hairstyle
 
Elderly Swazi man
 
Woman of Nsangweni
 
Elderly man
 
Swazi prince
 
Shongwe elder
 
Man of Mbangweni
 
An
 
Elderly pastor
 

Swazi women traditionally wear their hair in a beehive style known as "sicolo"; the hair is teased out with a porcupine quill and a pin is often worn stuck in it: this can be used to scratch the scalp if required. Another striking hair style is the "siyendle" worn by a "sangoma" or traditional healer. Often misleadingly called "witchdoctor", the sangoma wears his or, more frequently, her, hair in ringlets that are smeared with mud and red ochre (or apparently, red floor polish is also popular with some). The male "inyanga", mainly a herbalist, may also wear his hair in small braids.

Traditionally the men would spend long hours on their appearance and this included working on the traditional hairstyle: they might sit a long time underneath a waterfall and comb their hair out to straighten it. It would then be bleached with grease and left to dry in the sun. This style could occasionally still be seen.

During Easter the Native African churches ("emaZayoni" or Zionist churches) come together in Lobamba and their members, like those of the Nazareth Church, look very impressive, often resembling prophets from the Old Testament. A member of one of the traditional "Emabutfo" regiments uses a strip of insulating foam as a headdress and during the iNcwala or First Fruits Ceremony elaborate head dresses made with feathers and pelt may be worn. The Swazi are masters in making themselves look good for all occasions!