Thousands of Zulu maidens gather for annual Reed Dance

NONGOMA, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 11: . Nobule Ngema, 16, (C) waits with her friends to dance during the annual Reed Dance on September 11, 2004 in Nongoma in rural Natal, South Africa. Nobuhle traveled on a bus with about 20,000 fellow maidens from all over South Africa who came to dance for Zulu King Goodwill Zwelethini at the Enyokeni Royal Palace in Kwa-Nongoma about 350 kilometers from Durban. The girls come to the kingdom to declare their virginity and the ceremony encourages girls and young women to abstain from sexual activity to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. It's Nobuhle's first trip and she's already has three virginity certificates. She was tested in her village for the last three years. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)
NONGOMA, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 11: . Nobule Ngema, 16, (C) waits with her friends to dance during the annual Reed Dance on September 11, 2004 in Nongoma in rural Natal, South Africa. Nobuhle traveled on a bus with about 20,000 fellow maidens from all over South Africa who came to dance for Zulu King Goodwill Zwelethini at the Enyokeni Royal Palace in Kwa-Nongoma about 350 kilometers from Durban. The girls come to the kingdom to declare their virginity and the ceremony encourages girls and young women to abstain from sexual activity to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. It's Nobuhle's first trip and she's already has three virginity certificates. She was tested in her village for the last three years. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)
Thousands of Zulu maidens gather for annual Reed Dance
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Credit:
Per-Anders Pettersson / Contributor
Editorial #:
51478736
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Getty Images News
Date created:
September 11, 2004
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Object name:
51474638PAP013_reed