Swaziland Princess Whipped

Mere difference in culture or mosogynist backward African tradition?

The king of Swaziland’s daughter was whipped by a palace official at a party of teenage virgins ahead of a festival where over 50,000 maidens will vie to become her father’s 13th wife, media said on Sunday.

Princess Sikhanyiso, 17, told the Times of Swaziland a palace official whipped girls, including beauty queen Miss Swaziland, at the party as a punishment after they refused to turn down the music. She was pictured showing her bruises.

Thousands of bare-breasted virgins will dance for Africa’s last absolute monarch in Monday’s Reed Dance ceremony, which King Mswati III has used to choose new brides.

Critics say the ancient ceremony, meant to celebrate womanhood and virginity, has become little more than a shop window for the 37-year-old king to choose young brides.