MBABANE, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Swaziland was wrapping up Monday one its most sacred traditional ceremonies, the Incwala festival, after two months of secret rituals aimed at ushering in the New Year.

The festival in Africa's last absolute monarchy is held every year to celebrate the first fruits and sees thousands of traditional elders, warriors and commoners swearing loyalty to the monarch King Mswati III.

'Incwala is our national prayer and it is during this time of the year that we thank God for protecting our monarchy in past year and ask for His guidance in the upcoming year, but we do it the traditional way because God gave every national its own customs and traditions,' Traditional Prime Minister Jim Gama told AFP.

The festival begins in November with the king dispatching warrior troops to every corner of the land-locked country to complete secret rituals collecting water, sea-weed and other potions of traditional importance.

The king then puts aside all modern duties and goes into seclusion for the duration of the festival, until he emerges to perform the 'invincibility dance.'

During this dance, the king -- who has to jump over a fire seven times -- becomes the mystical embodiment of the whole Swazi nation.

Failing to finish the dance is seen to have serious consequences on the nation and it is expected the king should commit suicide or abdicate if this happens.

The festival climaxes when the king and royal family join thousands of warriors, all resplendent in traditional attire of shawls made of cow-tails and leopard hide skirts, in dancing and singing historical war songs.

Swaziland has been battling a 15-year drought which has seen no first fruits after the Incwala ceremony in this time.