Swazi Ethinic Group
Swazis are a proud but peaceful people who have close cultural, linguistic and historical ties to the Zulu, Ndebele and other Nguni peoples. The swazis are desended from the Nguni people who slowly migrated south for east-central Africa. Until late 18th century, Swazi society consisted of a group of closely related Nguni chiefdoms. King Ngwane III conquered and incorporated smaller chiefdoms led by chiefs from other clans in an attempt to defeat the Mthethwa forces led by Dingiswayo. When this failed, the Swazis retreated into the safety of the Ubombo mountains (modern day Swaziland).
Their mountainous stronghold and clever diplomacy meant they were able to resist the powerful Zulu conqueror, Shaka.
The Ngwane tribe become very strong after 1820 and incorporated the Sotho and other Nguni tribes or drove them out of the area. The boers and British appeared from the 1840's onwards, but the Swazi king Sobhuza I discouraged conflict with the whites. Occasionaly the Swazi monarchy and chieftaincy were left intact, which helped preserve the culture.
In 1968 Swaziland regained its full independance, but many Swazi-occupied areas in South Africa weren't incorporated into Swaziland. This left many South African Swazis, who live today in the districts of Barberton, Nelspruit, Paulpietersburg and Piet Retief.
Swazi Leadership
South African Swazis have strong ties to Swaziland and respect the monarchy and leadership structure of Swaziland. The Swazis are ruled by an executive king, this means he's not just ceremonial; he has the power of a president. The king, iNgwenyama (Lion)appoints chiefs and the communities can choose thier community leaders. The king also chooses his wife, and can choose a new wife every year after that if he wants to.
Their separate identity was mainteined by the establishment of Swaziland, to which south African Swazis have strong ties. Swaziland is a tiny landlocked country surrounded by South Africa.
A big difference between the Swazi monarchy and most Western monarchies is that the king can't choose his successor and the title never goes to the eldest son. The heir is chosen based on his mother. When the king dies, the chiefs and advisors meet to decided on who the queen mother should be - she is known as iNlovukazi (the she-elephant).
In order to be chosen as Indlovukazi, the woman must have only one son (unless she is very remarkable and of strong character), be from a good family that isn't part of the same clan as the king (Dlamini), and must not be a 'ritual wife'.
The 'ritual wives' are the first two wives of teh king. They take part in many of the rituals, must come from specific families according to tradition, and their sons can never be king. Once the iNdlovukazi is chosen, her son is named king.
Swazi Dress
Very young swazi children wear no clothing, but their bodies are smeared with protective medicines. older children dress according to gender and age group.
• boys wear lioncloths.
• gorls wear nothing but beaded jewellery until they turn three, which is when they add a skirt made of grass or cloth, and at eight they can add a toga to their wardrobe.
Emahiya are the traditional Swazi outfits worn by men and women. They consist of two parts: the top part is an umhelwane (large piece of fabric tied with a knot at the shoulder) and the bottom part is a lihiya (cloth wrapped around the waist). Women generally wear brighter colors than man and tie their umhelwane on their right side, while men tie theirs on the left.
Marital status and age is advertised by the clothes worn:
• unmarried men wear emajobo (animal hide loincloths) over the emanhiya and decorate themselves with beaded jewellery.
• unmarried women wear emahiya in red colors, and show that they're taken by ading a sidwaba (cow-hide apron) and a sidziya (goat-skin shawl).
• married men wear more then one lihiya at a tiem as a status symbol.
• Grandfathers wear head rings in addition to thier emahiya.
• Grandmothers wear a gatskin in addition to their emahiya.
Traditional dress is only really work now days during ceremonies and for special occasions like weddings adn funerals. If the man is a member of the royal family he wear lopard skins ove traditional cloths; women wear maroon cloths.
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