Part 5: the Swazi Royal Family Tree

EN ROUTE THROUGH SWAZILAND a FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING COURSE for REGISTERED SOUTH AFRICAN TOURIST GUIDES

Part 5: The Swazi Royal Family Tree

EN ROUTE THROUGH SWAZILAND a FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING COURSE for REGISTERED SOUTH AFRICAN TOURIST GUIDES

Herewith a brief overview of the Swazi Royal family tree.

PRE-MODERN SWAZILAND (UNTIL 1745) - refer to Learning Unit 4.

KINGS & QUEEN REGENTS OF MODERN SWAZILAND (1745–1903)

King Ngwane III  Date of birth unknown.  First Dlamini to rule in Swaziland, hence the first modern Swazi King.  He settled with his followers in present day Swaziland and gave his name to the country, kaNgwane.  Ruled ±1745-1780 (around 1750 from Zombodze near Nhlangano, in southern Swaziland).  Number of children: No record  Died ±1780.

Queen LaYaka Ndwandwe  Date of birth unknown.  Queen Mother (Indlovukazi) of King Ngwane III.  Regent of Swaziland ±1780 after the death of Ngwane III / until Ndungunye became king.  Date of death unknown.

King Ndungunye (Mavuso II) (Zikodze)  Born ±1760.  Ruled ±1780-1810.  He married (amongst others): - Somnjalose Simelane (the Biological Mother of the future King Sobhuza I) - Lojiba Simelane (The older sister and Classificatory Mother of the future King Sobhuza I by Nguni Law of Succession)  Number of children: 13 sons, no daughters recorded.  He was killed by lightning in ±1810. (quoted in some literature as 1815). © Document 2/2016-17 Bob Forrester, Zania Collin, Maria Louise Kruger, Francois Collin

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Queen Lomvula Mndzebele  Date of birth unknown.  Queen Mother (Indlovukazi) of King Ndungunye.  Regent of Swaziland ±1810 for a short while after the death of Ndungunye / until Sobhuza I became king. (quoted in some literature as 1815).  Date of death unknown.

King Sobhuza I (Ngwane IV) (Somhlolo)  Born ±1795 (date is often quoted as 1780).  Ruled ±1810-1839 (some literature quote 1815-1836).  "Founder of the Swazi Nation".  He married (amongst others): - Thandile Ndwandwe, Regent of Swaziland 1868/1875, daughter of Nkosi Zwide kaLanga of the Ndwandwe, - File Ndwandwe, daughter of Nkosi Zwide kaLanga of the Ndwandwe, - laVumisa Ndwandwe, daughter of Vumisa Ndwandwe, a relative of Nkosi Zwide kaLanga,  Number of children: 20 sons, 2 daughters recorded.  Died ±1839 (often quoted as 1836).

Queen Lojiba Simelane  Date of birth unknown.  Queen Mother (Indlovukazi) of King Sobhuza I.  Sobhuza was her sister Somnjalose’s biological son. As a senior wife that could not have children, she became his mother by successionary law.  Regent of Swaziland (±1839-1846) after the death of Sobhuza I until Mswati II became king. (This date is often quoted as 1836-1840).  Date of death unknown.

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King Mswati II (Mavuso II)  Born ±1821.  Ascended to Kingship ±1839 (date often quoted as 1836). - Queen Regent Lojiba Simelane (1839-1846). (The commencement date of her regency is often quoted as from 1836).  Ruled as King Mswati II (1846-1865). (Some other sources quote 1840- 1868).  He expanded Swaziland to more than twice its current size.  Number of children: 32 sons, 4 daughters recorded, including: o Ngwenyama Ludvonga II (by Sisile Lamgangeni Khumalo) o Ngwenyama Mbandzeni (by Nandzi Nkambule)  He died ±1865 (some other sources quote 1868).

Queen Thandile Ndwandwe  Date of birth unknown.  She was the daughter of King Zwide of the Ndwandwe.  She became the senior wife of King Sobhuza I  Queen Mother (Indlovukazi) of King Mswati II.  Regent of Swaziland (±1865-1875) after the death of Mswati II, in anticipation of Crown Prince Ludvonga's kingship, until succeeded by King Dlamini IV. (Some sources quote 1868-1875).  Date of death unknown.

Crown Prince Ludvonga II (Macaleni)  Born ±1851/1855 (actual date is unknown, but 1855 seems most widely accepted).  Died before becoming king ±1872/1874. (Actual date unknown. 1874 seems most accepted).

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King Mbandzeni (Dlamini IV) (Umbandine)  Born ±1855.  His biological mother (Nandzi Nkambule) was executed when he was young.  He was adopted by Ludvonga's mother (Sisile Lamgangeni Khumalo). (±1874)  Ascended to Kingship ±1875. (This date is often quoted as 1874) - Queen Regent Thandile Ndwandwe (1874-1875).  Ruled 1875-1889.  It is often said that he "sold" the land, but kept his Kingdom.  He married (amongst others): - Labotsibeni Mdluli whose son Crown Prince Mahlokohla was later chosen to rule Swaziland as King Ngwane V. - Tibati Nkambule (of the same clan as his biological mother) who bore him a son Prince Logcogco. She later became Queen Regent. - a daughter of Chief Langalibalele of the amaHlubi. (1) Note: Of special interest for RSA – see below  Number of children: 13 sons, 4 daughters recorded. - One of his daughters, Princess Lozinya, married (as his second wife), Pixley ka Isaka Seme, born 1 October 1881 in Natal, died 1951. (2) Note: Of special interest for RSA – see below  King Mbandzeni died 7 October 1889.

(1) Note: Chief Langalibalele was from the vicinity of Estcourt, and one of the first Black Activists banished to Robben Island in ±1874. Although the word ‘langa’ means sun, it is actually after him that Langa Township in Cape Town is named.

(2) Note: Pixley ka Isaka Seme went to school in the USA, obtained a law degree from Oxford, and returned to South Africa in 1910. He is considered the founder of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), the precursor to the ANC. In the 1920’s he served as legal counsel for the Swazi Regent (Labotsibeni Mdluli) in a dispute with the British Government.

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Queen Tibati Nkambule  Born - date unknown.  She was one of the wives of King Mbandzeni (Dlamini IV), and from the same clan as Mbandzeni’s biological mother. She bore him a son Prince Logcogco.  Regent of Swaziland (1889-1894) after the death of Dlamini IV, and after the selection of Crown Prince Mahlokohla to be the King of Swaziland. He ascended the throne as King Ngwane V.  She died in October 1895.

The Swazi flag of 1890 - 1894

King Bhunu (Ngwane V)  Born ±1875.  Ascended to Kingship 1889. - Queen Regent Tibati Nkambule (1889-1894).  Ruled ±1895-1899.  He married (amongst others): - Lomawa Ndwande (daughter of Chief Ngolotjeni Nxumalo) born King Bhunu 1894 - 1899 1878, and Ndlovukazi from 1921 until her death in 1938.  Number of children: 4 sons and 3 daughters.  He died 10 November 1899 in Zombodze.

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Queen Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli  Born ±1859.  She was a wife of King Mbandzeni (Dlamini IV).  Regent of Swaziland (1899-1903) after

the death of King Bhunu, and the The Swazi flag of 1894 - 1902 selection of Crown Prince Mona (also known as Nkhtofotjeni) to be the future King of Swaziland.

Paramount Chiefs & Queen Regents under British rule (1903–1968)

Queen Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli continue…  Regent of Swaziland under British Rule from 7 August 1903 for the future Paramount Chief, until 22 December 1921 when Mona ascended the throne as Paramount Chief (later King) Sobhuza II.

 She died on 15 December 1925. Queen Labotsibeni 1899 - 1921 (1) Note: Special interest for SA – she features at the “Long March to Freedom procession” National Heritage Site in Pretoria, Gauteng.

Flag of the High Flag of the High Commissioner Commissioner 1907 - 1931 1931 – 1967

King Sobhuza II (Nkhotfotjeni/Mona)  Born 22 July 1899.  After the death of King Bhunu, his father in 1899, he was selected to be the future Ingwenyama. His grandmother, Labotsibeni Mdluli was Regent of Swaziland (1899-1921).  On 22 December 1921, he ascended the throne as Paramount Chief (British Protectorate Rule prior to Swazi independence).

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Kings of Swaziland after Independence (1968 – present)

King Sobhuza II (Nkhotfotjeni/Mona) continue…  King (Independent Swaziland) until his death (1968-1982).  He married about 70 wives and amongst others: o Ntombi Tfwala (mother of Makhosetive Dlamini, the current King Mswati III – the 67th son).  Number of children: 210 (3) Note: Marriages of interest to Tourist Guides included below.  Ruled 1921-1982.  He died 21 August 1982 in Mbabane.

King Sobhuza II at age 81 in 1980

King Sobhuza II at age 24 in 1923

(3) Note: Marriages most relevant from the South African perspective, of interest to tourist guides: o HRH Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini Born: 5th April 1950 Married: 1973 to Zenani Mandela (b. 5 Feb 1959). Partner with his wife in Mandela/Dlamini & Associates International Business Consultants. Holds a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini with her father, Nelson Mandela

EN ROUTE THROUGH SWAZILAND a FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING COURSE for REGISTERED SOUTH AFRICAN TOURIST GUIDES o HRH Princess Mantfombi Dlamini Married: 1977 to HM King Goodwill Zwelethini Zulu o HRH Princess Msindvose Dlamini Married Kgosi Pilane, Chief of the baKgatla of Rustenberg (Pilanesberg). o HRH Princess Siphila Dlamini Married: 1975 to HM Ingwenyama Mayitjha III (Prince Cornelius Mahlangu) of kwaNdebele. o HRH Princess Sisila Dlamini Married Chief Zwidi Ndwandwe of Nkambeni.

o Other Princes and Princesses who have also married into the following prominent families: . Chief Zikhotheni . Chief Makaziwe Ndamase of the Western-Pondo . HM King Mpondombini Thandizulu Sigcau of the Eastern-Pondo . Chief Mathutha Mncina . Mbatjane Mamba, son of Chief Bhokweni Mamba . Mkhulumnggati Mamba, son of Chief Bhokweni Mamba . Chief Ncephu Magongo . Chief Velamuva Hlatjwako

Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe  Born ±1927.  She was the senior wife of King Sobhuza II.  Regent of Swaziland 1982-1983 after the death of King Sobhuza II.  There was a power struggle and she was placed under house arrest. Queen Ntombi Laftwala, mother of the 14-year-old Prince Makhosetive was installed as Queen Regent.  Died 2003.

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Queen Ntombi Tfwala  Born ±1927.  She was a younger wife of King Sobhuza II.  Regent of Swaziland 1983-1986 after the death of King Sobhuza II.  In the ensuing power struggle, the Regent, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe was placed under house arrest. Queen Ntombi Tfwala, mother of the 14-year-old Prince Makhosetive was installed as Queen Regent.  Her son, Makhosetive ascends the throne on 25 April 1986 as King Mswati III.  Queen Mother (Indlovukazi) of Swaziland from 1986 to the present.

King Mswati III (Makhosetive)  Born: 19 April 1968.  After the death of King Sobhuza II (his father) in August 1982 he was installed as Crown Prince Makhosetive 1983-1986. - The appointed Regent of Swaziland at the time was Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982- 1983). - His mother, Ntombi Tfwala replaced her as Regent of Swaziland (1983-1986).  He ascended the throne on 25 April 1986. - Ntombi Tfwala became the Queen Mother, the Indlovukazi of Swaziland in April 1986 to present.  According to the latest data he currently has - 15 wives - 35 children

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King Mswati III - Marriages to date

1. Inkhosikazi LaMatsebula - has a degree in education.

2. Inkhosikazi LaMotsa - UNDP Goodwill Ambassador since 1996.

3. 1986, Inkhosikazi LaMbikiza [Sibonelo Mngomezulu], daughter of Percy Mngomezulu, born 16th June 1969. Educated at the University of South Africa, (Masters Degree in Law, 2003), heads the Royal Initiative to Combat AIDS.

4. 1987, Inkhosikazi LaNgangaza [Carol], born 1970/1971. Patron of the world organisation "Hospice at Home";

5. Inkhosikazi LaHwala, [Putsoana Hwala], born about 1974. Separated 2004.

6. Inkhosikazi LaMagwaza [Delisa Magwaza]. Separated 2004.

7. 2000, Inkhosikazi LaMasango [Senteni Masango], born about 1981.

8. 2002 at Ludzidzini, Inkhosikazi LaGija [Angel Dlamini], born about 1979.

9. 2002 at Ludzidzini, Inkhosikazi LaMagongo [Nontsetselo Magongo], maternal niece of Chief Mlobokazana Fakudze, Chief at Mgazini, born about 1984.

10. 2002, Inkhosikazi LaMahlangu [Zena Soraya Mahlangu], born 1984.

11. 2005 at Ludzidzini, Inkhosikazi LaNtentesa [Noliqhwa Ayanda Ntentesa], born 1981.

12. 2005, Inkhosikazi LaDube [Nothando Dube], educated at Mater Dolorosa High School.

13. 2007, Inkhosikazi LaNkambule [Phindile Nkambule].