AAfrican Knowledge Atlas

Eswatini

Capital: Mbabane · Southern Africa

One of Africa's last executive monarchies, where the Incwala kingship ceremony and the Umhlanga reed dance renew the Swazi nation each year.

Ethnic communities

More communities of Eswatini

  • Dlamini royal clan The Ngwenyama's house at the nation's heart
  • Bemdzabuko core clans 'True Swazi' founding lineages
  • Emakhandzambili clans 'Found-ahead' peoples absorbed with rights
  • Emafikamuva clans Later-arrival lineages of the kingdom
  • Nkhosi lineages Chiefly houses across the four regions
  • Highveld herding folk Mountain cattle-post communities
  • Middleveld farmers The maize-and-homestead heartland
  • Lubombo communities Eastern ridge's mixed farming villages
  • Cane-belt families Lowveld sugar-estate communities
  • Sotho-descended villages Border-hill communities of mixed speech
  • Tsonga-Shangaan kin Eastern families of Mozambique links
  • Craft lineages Grass-weave, wood and bead heritage makers

Languages

Major languages: siSwati, English

Language families: Niger-Congo (Bantu, Nguni)

Historical kingdoms & states

  • Kingdom of Eswatini (Swazi Kingdom)

Heritage sites

  • Ngwenya Mine (world's oldest known mine)
  • Malolotja

Cultural highlights

Incwala first-fruits ceremonyUmhlanga reed danceSibhaca dance

Deep-dive community profiles