King of Swaziland

Mswati III (born April 19, 1968) is the king of Swaziland. He succeeded his late father, Sobhuza II, in 1986.

Early life

He was the only child of Ntombi Thwala, a young wife of the elderly King Sobhuza, and he was named Makhosetwe (King of Nations).

 Regency

When his father died of pneumonia in 1982, the royal council chose the 14-year-old prince Makhosetwe to be the next king. For the next four years two female relatives served as regent, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982-1983) and Queen Ntombi Thwala (1983-1986) while he continued with his education, attending the English Sherborne School.

King

He was introduced as crown prince in September 1983 and was crowned king on April 25, 1986. The king and his mother, whose title is Ndlovukazi (Great She-Elephant), rule jointly.

Today he is Africa's last absolute monarch. He rules by decree, and is strongly opposed to democratisation of his country, though he did restore the nation's parliament, which had been dissolved by his father.

Succession

In Swaziland no king can appoint his successor. Only the royal family 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.

The "Great Wife" must only have one son, be of good character and come from a 'good' family. She must not bear the maiden name of Nkhosi-Dlamini and she must not be a ritual wife (i.e. the eldest son is never the heir).

The King has approximately 10 wives, but according to tradition, those who have not yet borne him a child are referred to as official fiancees, not queens. 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 claim kingship. The first wife must be a member of the Matsebula clan, the second of the Motsa clan. According to tradition, he can only marry his fiancees after they have fallen pregnant, proving they can bear heirs. Until then, they are liphovela. In 2002 it was alleged he caused Zena Mahlangua to be kidnapped to become his tenth wife, but no charges were pressed against him in his own courts.

Wives

His wives are:

* LaMatsebula - has a degree in education

* LaMotsa

* LaNganganza

* LaMbikiza' (born Simbonelo Mngomezulu), an advocate, received her degree from UNISA. La Mbikiza is the head of the Swazi Royal Initiative to Combat Aids (Rica). The initiative involves the recording of songs by Swazi, South African and international artists and the proceeds of the sales are allocated to programmes aimed at helping people affected by Aids.

* Delisa Magwaza, (born 1974 ??) better known as Inkhosikati LaMagwaza - who has since left the king.

* Sentengi Masango (born 1981 ??)

* Putsoana Hwala, (born 1974 ??) known as Inkhosikati LaHwala - has since left the king.

* LaGija

* LaMagongo

* Zena Mahlangu (born 1984 ??), traditional marriage ceremony May, 2004

* Noliqhwa Ntentesa

* Nothando Dube, a Miss Teenage Swaziland finalist at age 16, chosen at the Umhlanga (Reed Dance) ceremony on August 30, 2004 while she was a grade 9 pupil at Mater Dorolosa High school.

Reed Dance

The annual Umhlanga Reed Dance is an assembly of about 20,000 young maidens who bring a tall (4 metre) reed to present to the king. Traditionally it is a time when the king can choose another wife.