South Africa - Zulu Wife-Picking Festival

T/I 10:10:37 COLOUR-BLIND DANCING AT ZULU WIFE-PICKING FESTIVAL Kwazulu/Natal Province, South Africa Engcomm/Natsot Duration:1.15" White, Indian and mixed race girls have danced alongside Zulu maidens in South Africa's strife-torn KwaZulu-Natal province in a rare show of cultural solidarity. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini transformed the centuries-old Reed Dance into a cultural melting pot by allowing non-Zulus to participate in the ritual. More than 1,000 young women took part in the ceremony which gives maidens the chance to introduce themselves to the leader of the Zulu tribe. On occasions the king chooses a new bride from the dancers. And while women of all races took part in the dance this year, the king's council made it plain he wouldn't be adding any non-Zulus to his household. Zulu maidens prepared for the ritual by bathing in a ravine at Nongoma, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Durban, then walked to the king's palace bare-breasted. SHOWS: Zulu maidens running over hill. Maidens walking along path. Side shot of above. Zulu women pick up spears. Mixed race girls. Followed by Indian girls carrying spears. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini looking at women. King holding shield. Zulu woman giving king spear. Zulus followed by mixed race girls carrying spears. Zulu girls singing to mixed race girls dancing. White girls and black girls. Cutaway audience. Girls dancing. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/ac1b53c4e72e4ecd8e7fc07ca7826b6a Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork