Eswatini/Swaziland
A tiny country with a big heart and warm, friendly people is a fitting description of Eswatini (Swaziland) – a country that is one of the few remaining monarchies in Africa and one that embraces and upholds its own unique and ancient traditions“ (thekingdomofeswatini.com). The cultural heritage that is maintained by the people and the monarchy of Eswatini is probably unrivalled on the African continent.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a landlocked country in southern Africa, bordered by South Africa to the north, south and west and Mozambique to the east. The nation and its people are named after the 19th century King Mswati II. Eswatini is a small country covering an area of 17.4 km and a population of about 2.1 million. This makes it the second smallest country on the African continent after The Gambia and the second least populated country on the African continent after Djibouti. The official languages are Siswati and English. Most people speak or understand English even in the rural areas. The country is divided into four regions: Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni.
History and society
The Swazi people originally came from Mozambique. Their Nguni ancestors moved there before the 16th century as part of the Bantu migration. The Swazi fled from their original homeland in the 19th century to the Pongola River Valley in KwaZulu Natal as a result of internal pressure. Ndwandwe attacks later forced the Swazi(Dlamini) to move to the Ezulwini Valley in present-day Eswatini. Sobhuza was the son of Ngwane III, the first king of the Swazi. Sobhuza became the most powerful ruler in the region. The next Swazi king to ascend the throne was Mswati.
During the 1800s, European settlers, traders, missionaries and hunters moved into the area with the intention of making it their home. The British annexed the kingdom in 1877. In 1894, Swaziland became a protectorate of the Transvaal Colony, which was under British control following the 2nd Anglo-Boer War. This arrangement lasted until 1906, when the Kingdom became a High Commission Territory under the rule of a British Commissioner. Swaziland remained under British control for the next 66 years. Many Swazi men left their homes to work as miners, earning money to buy back parts of their land. On 6 September 1968, Swaziland was granted full independence. It was still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the king, Sobhuza II, became head of state.
As Swaziland’s constitution was a product of the previous British rulers, King Sobhuza II abrogated it in 1973 because he felt that it did not reflect the culture of the Swazi people. A new constitution was drawn up, making the king the absolute ruler of the kingdom. Sobhuza remained in power until 1982 when Prince Makhosetive Dlamini was selected as his successor. He was crowned as King Mswati III in 1986 and has ruled the kingdom with a small group of advisors called the Council of Ministers. In April 2018, Mswati III, the current ruler of Eswatini and Africa’s last absolute monarch, announced that the Kingdom of Swaziland had been renamed as the Kingdom of Eswatini. This marked the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence and reflects the existing Swazi name for the state Eswatini.
About a quarter of Eswatini’s population is in need of food aid. Eswatini is the world’s leading country for HIV/AIDS, with 27% of the population infected. As a result, there are an estimated 100,000 orphans in the country (10% of the total population) and this is likely to increase given the level of infection. Many efforts have been made by the government and non-governmental organisations to improve the situation. Progress can be seen in the fact that Eswatini was the first African country to reach the 95-95-95 testing and treatment targets for 2030 set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNSAID): 95% of people who are living with HIV will know their HIV status; 95% of people diagnosed with HIV will be on continuous and systematic antiretroviral therapy; 95% of people on antiretroviral therapy will have suppressed viral loads.
Eswatini life and culture
The majority of Swazis (79%) live in rural communities with many villages consisting of a dozen or so traditional huts. Eswatini culture is built around the traditional homestead with the kagogo (granny’s hut) at the centre of life and the sibaya (cattle byre) also playing an important role. Next to the kagogo is the edladeni (main kitchen). One of the reasons why the homestead plays such a fundamental role in Eswatini culture is the belief that the spirits of the family’s ancestors reside in the homestead. The traditional lifestyle of the Swazi people is guided by the ancestors. There are two major cultural events in Eswatini: the Incwala in December and the Umhlanga in late August / early September. The Incwala is the more important of the two and most Swazi gather at the Royal Kraal at Ludzidzini where they are joined by the King for weeks of dancing to celebrate the ‘first fruits’. The Umhlanga is the second most important cultural ceremony where uncommitted girls pay homage to the king and queen mother. Other customs include the traditional and vigorous Sibhaca dance.
Find more interesting details about Eswatini’s culture, history, society and nature at the following references:
https://www.thekingdomofeswatini.com/eswatini-experiences/
https://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Swaziland.html
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-culture-of-eswatini.html
https://www.thekingdomofeswatini.com/eswatini-experiences/culture/
Good to know
Climate
The dry season (winter) lasts from mid-April to mid-October, with an average temperature of 20°C (sunny days and cool nights). The rainy season begins in late October and lasts until March. Temperature variations also depend on the altitude of the different regions.
Electricity
220 / 240 volt AC
Language Guide
A few key Swazi phrases.
Hello………………………………..Sawubona
Thank you………………………..Ngiyabonga Goodbye………………………….Hamba kahle (go well) Goodbye………………………….Sala kahle (stay well)
How are you?…………………..Kunjani?
I am well………………………….Ngikhona
Yes…………………………………..Yebo
No……………………………………Cha
Dress
In the rural areas and traditional settings, skirts or dresses (not too short) are common for women and long trousers for men. Men are not allowed to wear a hat or cap in meetings or when entering a homestead. They take it off briefly when greeting elders. In the uplands, especially in the winter (April-September), it can be cold in the evenings and sweaters may be necessary. It can be very cold in the mornings and at night.
Currency
The unit of currency in Eswatini is the Lilangeni – plural Emalangeni (E) – which is fixed to the South African Rand (1 Rand = 1 Lilangeni). South African Rands are accepted everywhere and wou don’t no need to change them. Emalangeni are difficult to exchange for other currencies outside Eswatini, so you should reconvert before you leave.
Food and drink
There is a wide variety of food in Eswatini, including traditional menus that are mostly based on stew with pap (a traditional porridge made from ground maize), legumes and vegetables. Animals are generally slaughtered for special occasions and are considered a high status food. Other popular foods include pumpkin, beans and rice. Sweet potatoes are widely cultivated and sorghum is farmed in some areas. Fruits include mango, guava, pawpaw, banana and avocado. The best time for most fruits is the late rainy season, from December to March.
Restaurants can be found mainly in towns such as Mbabane and in the Ezulwini Valley. Portuguese cuisine (an influence from nearby Mozambique) including seafood, and especially prawns, can be found in areas such as Big Bend and Siteki.
During the marula season from January to March there is also a special treat for Baileys lovers! The marula fruit is used to make a creamy, fruity liqueur. Each homestead has its own special recipe. Water in Eswatini’s main towns and in the main hotels and restaurants is safe to consume. If travelling in rural areas, bottled or boiled water is recommended.
Meet the Guides
Seth Maphalala is an environmentalist and works for Indalo Eswatini. He has also been engaged in the development of the Shewula and Mhlumeni Camps. He will be assisting with guiding the group but also support the team in the field as he is an environmental educator
Sibusiso Mazibuko who will be responsible for all logistics has experience working in South Africa with students as he was a boarding master in a hostel. He has worked in the courts in Eswatini before moving to South Africa. He is now the Director of Sbucon Investments based in Siteki.
