Succession to the Swazi throne

King of Swaziland

Incumbent
Mswati III
Details
Style His Majesty
Heir apparent None
First monarch Ngwane III
Formation 1750s

In Swaziland, no king can appoint his successor. Only an independent special traditional Council called the Liqoqo decides which of the wives shall be "Great Wife" and "Indlovukazi" (She-Elephant / Queen Mother). The son of this "Great Wife" will automatically become the next king.[1]

The "Great Wife" is chosen after the death of the king and must be of good character. Her character affects her child's chances of ascending to the status of king. According to Swazi culture, a son cannot be the heir if his mother is not of good standing. She must not bear the maiden name of Nkhosi-Dlamini as Dlamini is the name of the Royal House of Swaziland and she must not be a ritual wife (consequently the eldest son is never the heir).[2]

The king currently has fifteen wives and 23 children.[3] A Swazi king's first two wives are chosen for him by the national councillors. These two have special functions in rituals and their sons can never become kings. The first wife must be a member of the Matsebula clan, the second of the Motsa clan. These wives are known as tesulamsiti.

A royal fiance is called liphovela, or "bride". They graduate from being fiancées to full wives as soon as they fall pregnant, when the king customarily marries them. But the traditional marriage, known as “Ludvendve” (marriage to the king) only follows later.[4]

In traditional Swazi culture, the king is expected to marry a woman from every clan in order to cement relationships with each part of Swaziland. This means that the king must have many wives.[2]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Inkhosikati LaMbikiza
Sikhanyiso Dlamini at the 2006 Umhlanga

References

  1. ↑ Kuper, Adam. "Rank and Preferential Marriage in Southern Africa: The Swazi". Man. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 1: 567–579.
  2. 1 2 Wayua, Muli. "A king, his culture, his wives," Daily Nation (Nairobi, Kenya). December 7, 2002.
  3. 1 2 Sapa-AFP (17 September 2013). "Swaziland's King Mswati takes pageant contestant as 15th wife". Times Live. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  4. 1 2 Swazi royal family thrown into sordid disarray IOL
  5. ↑ United Nations Development Programme: "UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness Inkhosikati LaMotsa, speaks at the launch of the MDGs at Matsanjeni," 2007.
  6. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jun/27/entertainment/et-oconnor27
  7. 1 2 Ndiweni, Sikhumbuzo Ndiweni. "Swazi queens revolt," 24News.com. July 4, 2004.
  8. ↑ Mswati’s 6th wife leaves palace IOL
  9. 1 2 "Swazi King Mswati takes 12th wife". The Namibian. 14.06.05. Retrieved October 18, 2009. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. 1 2 Nothando Dube, the 12th wife of King Mswati III, says she is isolated and beaten by guards Mail & Guardian
  11. ↑ Swaziland denies Queen Dube evicted from royal palace BBC
  12. ↑ "Swazi king picks young new wife". BBC News. September 26, 2005. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  13. ↑ Dlamini, Welcome (2014-08-31). "King marries Liphovela lafogiyane". Swazi Observer. Swazi Observer. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
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