In many cultures today, especially Western ones, kissing in public are an absolutely normal sight. This public display of affection is done by couples, lovebirds who are just dating and, at times, even random people who don’t know each other.
In African cultures, however, people are much more conservative as a public display of affection such as kissing could be considered as inappropriate.
While some African cultures simply tag kissing in public as unnecessary and not conservative, there are others who totally disapprove of it by placing consequences on it.
In Siteki, Swaziland, couples caught kissing passionately in public are obligated to pay a $12 (5,000 Naira) fine.
https://youtu.be/BPQtdPQ_fAM
According to the laws of the community, public kissing that is extreme and causes other people to be uneasy attracts this fine as it is considered to be public indecency. This does not, however, include a peck
on a baby’s cheek.
Cities in Swaziland already have tough public order laws that forbid indecencies like urinating in public, street vending and littering. However, this law on kissing is centred on the idea that what is done in private should be done in private.
The residents of Siteki also agree with this as they believe that kissing in public is not a part of their culture and that culture should be respected.
However, it all begins to look like a thing of hypocrisy when one recalls that in this same country, thousands of supposedly virgin young women dance topless in front of the last absolute monarch in Africa, Mswati III.
The popular polygamist uses this event – particularly loved by tourists – to choose a new spouse every year. Mswati III has over 15 wives. Just last year, he spoilt all his wives by purchasing 19 Rolls Royce all worth £12
million.
