Swazi people

The Swati or Swazi (Swazi: Emaswati, singular Liswati) are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, living mainly in Eswatini, a sovereign kingdom, and South Africa's Mpumalanga province. They are part of the Nguni-language speaking peoples, with roots that go back to East Africa, where similar traditions and beliefs have been found.

Today, the Swati people and the Kingdom of Eswatini are named after Mswati II, who became king in 1839. The land was first home to the San people, and the Swazi ancestors moved from northeast Africa through Mozambique before settling in Eswatini around the 15th century. Their royal family comes from a chief named Dlamini I, and this remains their royal clan name.

Swazi identity includes everyone who shows loyalty to the two leaders: Ingwenyama, meaning "the Lion" (the king), and Indlovukati, meaning "the She-Elephant" (the queen mother). The shared Swati language and culture help unite the Swati people as one nation.

History

The Swati people are native to Southern Africa, living mainly in Eswatini and the Mpumalanga area of South Africa. They are part of the Nguni-language speaking groups. Their history goes back to around 1750 when their leader, Dlamini III, settled near the Pongola River.

Over time, leaders like Sobhuza I helped grow the Swati nation by bringing together many different groups. Later leaders faced challenges from settlers, but Eswatini remained independent. Today, many Swati people live in both Eswatini and South Africa, and they share a common language and culture.

Identity

The kings of Eswatini have a long history, going back to when the royal Dlamini family lived near Delagoa Bay.

The Swazi people started as 17 clans called bemdzabuko, or "true Swazi," who followed the Dlamini kings in the beginning. These clans include the Dlamini, Nhlabathi, Hlophe, Kunene, Mabuza, Madvonsela, Mamba, Matsebula, Mdluli, Motsa, Ngwenya, Shongwe, Sukati, Tsabedze, Tfwala, Mbokane, and Zwane. There are also other Swazi clans that were already living on the land before the Dlamini arrived, and some who joined later.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Eswatini

In Swazi culture, dancing and singing are very important. People also enjoy praise-singing. Pottery and carving are not as common.

Traditional Swazi marriage, called umtsimba, usually happens on a weekend between June and August. The bride and her family visit the groom’s home on Friday night. On Saturday, the bride’s group eats meat provided by the groom’s family and dances at his home. On Sunday, the bride stabs the ground with a spear at the groom’s cattle area and is marked with special red paint. This marking is a big moment in the marriage because a woman can only be marked once. The bride also gives gifts to her husband and his family.

Two big cultural events in Eswatini are Umhlanga and Incwala. Umhlanga happens in August or September and is for young women who are not married to show respect to the queen mother, the Ndlovukati. Incwala takes place in December or January, depending on the moon. It is also called the “First Fruits” ceremony, where the king tastes the new harvest.

Religion

The traditional Swazi religion believes in a supreme God called Mvelincanti, meaning "he who was there from the beginning," and also honors ancestors. Many Swazis mix these beliefs with Christianity, which was introduced by missionaries. They often continue their traditional spiritual practices, especially during important family events like births, deaths, and marriages.