Zulu nation celebrates 40 years of Reed Dance. Around 40,000 virgins participated in this year Reed dance. The Reed Dance tradition, which was intended to protect women from rape and promote staying pure until marriage, was started by King Mpande kaSenzangakhona in the 1800s. King Mpande was inspired to start the Reed Dance after hearing that young women used reeds to defend themselves from men who tried to attack them. The maidens brought the reeds to the palace, and they were used as a