The Kingdom of Eswatini formerly Swaziland is a small country in southern Africa region that is considered the only absolute monarchy left in Africa. The country now derives its name from a later king named Mswati II. Mswati II was the greatest of the fighting kings of Eswatini. It is popular with tourists who flock the country every year for the Umhlanga or reed dance festival that showcases a royal culture unseen elsewhere in the world. The monarchy is headed jointly by the King or Ingwenyama and the Queen Mother or Indlovukati, while the appointed prime minister is head of government. The Eswatini or Swazi (Swati) royal family is from the Nkhosi Dlamini clan and includes all the descendants of previous kings to current king meaning the are many. This post majorly focuses only the current main line of King Mswati III.
Royal Titles
- King – Ingwenyama (lion, actual name for lion is libhubesi) or Inkhosi
- praise – Bayethe wena Wapakhati Nkhosi
- Queen Mother (King’s mother) – Indlovukazi (she- elephant)
- praise – Nkhosi Ndlovukazi Mhlekazi
- Reigning King’s wife – Inkhosikati with prefix HRH ,plural is Emakhosikati (also used to refer to married women)
- Late King’s wives – Balodolozi
- Prince or Princess – Umntfwanenkhosi (child of a king) or Lizinyane used for a child of a reigning King, Plural is Emazinyane. Lizinyane means lion’s cub
- Chief – Sikhulu, wife is Inkhosikati. (Only men serve as chiefs, women can serve only as Regents)
- Governor – indvuna
- Prime minister – Ndvunankhulu
- (Special Acknoweldgement to Hussein Mncedisi Arnold)
Modern Kings/Ingwenyama of Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Ingwenyama Ngwane III – reign 1745 – 1780 (The first King of modern Swaziland)
- Ingwenyama Ndvungunye (Zikodze, Mavuso II) – reign 1780 – 1815
- Ingwenyama Sobhuza I (Somhlolo) – reign 1815 – 1839
- Ingwenyama Mswati II (Mavuso III) – reign 1840 – 1865
- Crown Prince Ludvonga II (Macaleni) – died in 1872 before ascending the throne
- Ingwenyama Dlamini IV (Mbandzeni) – reign 1875 – 1889
- Ingwenyama Ngwane V (Mahlokohla) – reign January 1895 – 10 December 1899
- King Ingwenyama Sobhuza II – reign 22 July 1899 – 21 August 1982
- King Ingwenyama Mswati III – reign 19 April 1968 – todate
Modern Queen mothers/TiNdlovukati of Eswatini
- LaYaka Ndwandwe – reign 1745 – 1780 (was regent in 1780)
- Lomvula Mndzebele – reign 1780 – 1815 (was regent in 1815)
- Lojiba Simelane – reign 1815 – 1840 (was regent 1836–1840)
- Tsandzile Ndwandwe (LaZidze) – reign 1840 – 1875 (was regent 1868–1875)
- Sisile Khumalo (Lamgangeni) – reign 1875
- Tibati Nkambule (Madvolomafisha) – reign 1875 – 1894 (was regent 1889–1894)
- Labotsibeni Mdluli (Gwamile, Lamvelase) – reign 1894 – 1925 (was regent 1899–1921)
- Lomawa Ndwandwe – reign 1925 – 1938 (mother of King Sobhuza II)
- Nukwase Ndwandwe – reign 1938 – 1957 (sister and cowife of Lomawa)
- Zihlathi Ndwandwe/Mkhatjwa – reign 1957 – 1975
- Seneleleni Ndwandwe – reign 1975 – 1980 (sister and cowife of Zihlathi)
- Dzeliwe Shongwe – reign 1982 – 1983 (wife of King Sobhuza II, was regent 1982–1983)
- Ntfombi Tfwala – reign 1983 – present (was regent 1983–1986)
King (Ingwenyama) Sobhuza II
King (Ngwenyama) Mswati III
King Mswati III is the reigning King or Ingwenyama of Eswatini. He became King in 1986 at the age of 18 after the death of his father, King Sobhuza II. King Mswati III is the son of King Sobhuza II of Eswatini then Swaziland and Inkhosikati laTwala now Queen mother Ntfombi. He is the administrative head of the country. As per tradition, The King is allowed to have many wives from different clans throughout the Kingdom as part of royal tradition and inclusivity. BAYETHE WENA PAKATHI
Photo: Mysterious X Photography, Deelangza photography
Queen mother (Indlovukati) Ntfombi Twala
Queen mother or Indlovukati Ntfombi Twala was one of the youngest wives of late King Sobhuza II of Eswatini. Her only child is King Mswat and offcially the only Queen of Eswatini
Below is a list of the current wives of King Mswati III of the Kingdom Eswatini formerly Swaziland. In Eswatini, they are commonly referred to as Inkhosikati followed with their fathers surname or clan name while the west usually describe them unofficially as Queen, a name rarely used in Eswatini .
Queen Inkhosikati laMatsebula
Queen Inkhosikati laMatsebula is the first wife of HM King (Ingwenyama) Mswati III of Eswatini. She is a ritual wife who is selected from the Matsebula clan by the royal council as per tradition. The first two wives have a unique role in traditional rituals and events. She resides at the Ludzidzini royal palace where the Queen Mother or Indlovukati lives. Inkhosikati laMatsebula has joined the King on his visit to Equitorial Guinea, DRC among others. Together they are parents to two sons namely :
- Prince Sicalo Dlamini
- Prince Maveletiveni Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laMotsa
Queen Inkhosikati laMotsa is the second wife of King( Ingwenyama) Mswati III of Eswatini. Just like the first wife she was also chosen by the royal council from the Motsa clan as per tradition. She resides at the Ludzidzini royal palace where the Queen Mother or Indlovukati lives. Inkhosikati laMotsa has accompanied the King for his visit to Taiwan, Mexico etc. Together they have four sons namely ;
- Prince Majaha Dlamini
- Prince Benkhosi Dlamini
- Prince Lusuku Dlamini
- Prince Sinawokhe Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laMbikiza
Queen Inkhosikati laMbikiza is the third wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini but the first wife she chose for himself as per swazi traditions. The highly educated Queen is a law and graphic design graduate. Queen laMbikiza resides at Nkoyoyo palace. She famously met the Obamas while accompanying the King and was also present at the Queen Elizabeth ii golden jubilee luncheon. Among other state visits include Malaysia, South Africa. She is the mother of the kings first child (daughter) and a son namely;
- Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini
- Prince Lindani Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laNgangaza
Queen Inkhosikati laNgangaza is the fourth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She resides at eNgabezweni royal residence. She is patron of Eswatini Hospice. She joined the king on his state visit to Germany in 1999, UAE, Zambia etc. Together they have four daughters namely ;
- Princess Temaswati Dlamini
- Princess Tiyandza Dlamini
- Princess Tebukhosi Dlamini
- Princess Mazwezulu Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laHwala (Formerly)
Queen Inkhosikati laHwala was the fifth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She was born in the neighbouring Kingdom of Lesotho. Being from Lesotho, She accompanied the King to the royal wedding of King Letsie III of Lesotho in 2000. Together they have two children namely ;
- Prince Bandzile Dlamini
- Princess Sibahle Temashayina Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laMagwaza (Formerly)
Queen Inkhosikati laMagwaza was the sixth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She showcased some of her artwork early on during her youth.Together they have two daughters namely ;
- Princess Temtsimba Dlamini, Mrs Schofield
- Princess Sakhizwe Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laMasango (late)
Queen Inkhosikati laMasango was the seventh wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. An excellent painter, she passed away in 2018. Queen laMasango accompanied the King for his state visit to Zimbabwe during Robert Mugabes tenure and France in 2007. Together they have two daughters namely ;
- Princess Sentelweyinkhosi Dlamini
- Princess Sibusezweni Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laGija
Queen Inkhosikati laGija is the eighth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She stands out as the shortest of all the Queens. Queen laGija accompanied the King to his visit to Kenya. Together they have a daughter namely;
- Princess Yenzile Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laMagongo
Queen Inkhosikati laMagongo is the ninth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She is a Niece of Chief Mlobokazana Fakudze at Mgazini. Queen laMagongo stands out as the tallest and is mixed swazi and Portuguese due to proximity to Mozambique. She famously attended the President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa inauguration ceremony in 2019 with the King. She also joined the king on his state visit to Ethiopia, Malaysia, UK. Together they have one son namely ;
- Prince Mcwasho Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laMahlangu
Queen Inkhosikati laMahlangu is the tenth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. Accompanying the King, she was the only african queen at the British royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. She also accompanied the King for his state visit to Sri Lanka, France. Together they have two children namely ;
- Prince Saziwangaye Dlamini
- Prince Lomabheka Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laNtentesa
Queen Inkhosikati laNtentesa is the eleventh wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She has accompanied the King during his various visits. Together they have a daughter namely ;
- Princess Sabusiswa Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laDube (late)
Queen Inkhosikati laDube was the twelfth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She passed away in 2019. She was a former beauty miss teen swaziland. Queen laDube famously accompanied the King to the Thailand 60 years on the throne celebrations for the late King Bhumibol of Thailand. Together they have three children namely ;
- Princess Makhosothando Dlamini
- Prince Betive Dlamini
- Prince Temave Mahlemalangeni Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laNkambule
Queen Inkhosikati laNkambule is the thirteenth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She joined the king on his state visit to the Philippines and at the South African second inauguration of president Jacob Zuma etc. Together they have six children ;
- Princess Buhlebetive Dlamini
- Princess Nikudumo Dlamini
- Princess Mphilwenhle Dlamini
- Prince Mehluli Dlamini
- Princess Mphandseze Dlamini
- Princess Lomchele Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laFogiyane
Queen Inkhosikati laFogiyane is the fourteenth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She accompanied the King for his state visit to India, Zambia, Rwanda and Bostwana etc. Together they have two daughters namely ;
- Princess Ntsandvweni Dlamini
- Princess Nolikhwa Dlamini
Queen Inkhosikati laMashwama
Queen Inkhosikati laMashwama is the fifteenth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. She is the daughter of the Eswatini politician. Queen laMashwama famously accompanied the King to the Emperor of Japan coronation in 2019. She joined the King on his trip to Indonesia for the inauguration of president Widodo and the Russian Africa summit in 2019, King Misuzulu coronation etc. Together they have a son namely ;
- Prince Mkhandlo Dlamini
ESWATINI ROYAL PALACES AND RESIDENCES
- Lozitha Palace – official residence of the King Mswati III
- Embo state Palace– official residence of late King Sobhuza II, built by the british for the king. It is not occupied or phographed as it is considered sacred.
- Ludzidzini Palace – official residence of the Queen Mother or Indlovukati, Queen Inkhosikati laMatsebula and Queen Inkhosikati laMotsa. It is the venue for the traditional royal events like the reed dance
- Masundvwini royal residence
- Nkoyoyo palace – residence of Queen Inkhosikati laMbikiza
- Ngabezweni royal residence – Queen Inkhosikati laNgangaza
- Naleni royal residence – Queen Inkhosikati laMagongo
- Phondo royal residence – late Queen Inkhosikati laMasango
- Chibini royal residence – late Queen Inkhosikati laDube
- Lobamba royal guest house
- Buhleni royal residence
- Hlane royal residence
- Mpumalanga royal residence, Siteki
- Esikhaleni Royal residence
- Elusekwaneni Royal Residence
- Embangweni Royal Residence
- Manzana Royal Residence (new)
Princes and Princesses (sons and daughters)
Many older princesses of this kingdom have married into other royal houses in South Africa. See link https://theafricanroyalfamilies.com/2022/05/31/great-wife-tradition-in-african-royal-houses/
Swati Chiefs in Eswatini
The Swazi people as a nation were originally formed by 16 clans known as bemdzabuko (“true Swazi”) who accompanied the Dlamini kings in the early days. The 15 founding clans were Dlamini, Nhlabathi, Hlophe, Kunene, Mabuza, Madvonsela, Mamba, Matsebula, Mdluli, Motsa, Ngwenya, Shongwe, Sukati, Tsabedze, Tfwala and Zwane. Other Swazi clans are the Emakhandzambili clans (“those found ahead”, e.g. the Gamedze, Fakudze, Ngcamphalala and Magagula), meaning that they were on the land prior to Dlamini immigration and conquest. The Emafikemuva (“those who came behind”) who joined the kingdom later. Eswatini is broken up into 4 regions, 55 (Tinkudhla)constituencies, each of which contains 10-15 chiefdoms (imiphakatsi). There are 360 imiphakatsi in the country, each approximately equivalent to a local community. In western societies it could be also equivalent to a township. Imiphakatsi are either Royal villages with a Royal kraal or chief residences which are administered under a Swazi chief or a Royal prince through Swazi Law and Custom. These chiefs are under the Eswatini monarchy and most are linked by marriage. Some are powerful then others. Chief in swati language is Sikhulu. Under the chiefs are the Indvuna or headmen
- King of Mamba clan
- Chief of Benguni/Ndwandwe clan
- Chief of Simelane clan
- Chief of Nkhungwini
- Chief of koNtshingila
- Chief of Ntfonjeni and Ludzibini
- Chief of Macetjeni
- Chief of Ka-Mkhweli
- Chief of KaMaphungwane
- Chief of Enceka
- Chief of Ensingweni
- Chief of Ekupheleni
- Chief of Emaphalaleni
- Chief of Eludlawini
- Chief of Emgazini
- Chief of Ebulandzeni
- Chief of Ka-Zandondo
- Chief of Enyatsini
- Chief of Emkhwakhweni
- Chief of Lavumisa
- Chief of Entjanini
- Chief of KaNdlela
- Chief of Ngcina
- Chief of Mdumezulu
- Chief of Kaluhleko
- Chief of Embelebeleni
- Chief of Ematsanjeni
- Chief of Emphini
- Chief of Mpembekati
- Chief of Nkambeni
- Chief of Ekuvinjelweni
- Chief of Elangeni
- Chief of KaNgcamphalala
- Chief of Bhahwini
- Chief of Zondwako
- Chief of Mahlalini
- Chief of kaLanga
- Chief of Hluthi
- Chief of Bhekinkhosi
- Chief of Gundvwini
- more to be added
Swati chiefs in South Africa
Mpumalanga province has a large population of Swazi/Swati people whose traditional chiefdoms still pay allegiance to King of Eswatini despite modern colonial drawn boundaries. Historically a large part of Mpumalanga province was under the influence of the Eswatini monarchy before colonialists came. These chiefdoms or royal kraals include: (special thanks to Prince Sistwako of Esandleni royal kraal)
- Esandleni royal kraal
- Enikakuyengwa royal kraal
- Mfumbeni royal kraal
- Ebutsini royal kraal
- ENkhaba royal kraal
- Somcuba royal kraal
- Embhuleni royal kraal
- Mjindini royal kraal
- Msogwaba royal kraal
- Ka Sphezi royal kraal
- Mekemeke royal kraal
https://www.instagram.com/eswatini_royalty/
Important sources with more information
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_to_the_Swazi_throne
https://parliament.gov.sz/senate/list/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Eswatini
Special thanks to Mysterious photography and various eswatini royals
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