Africa's Last Absolute King

Born Makhosetive (meaning King of Nations) Dlamini in 1968, KING MSWATI III of Swaziland is one of the most interesting monarchs on earth. The son of King Sobhuza II who ruled longer than any other king in the world (see HERE), King Mswati III is one of the last absolute monarchs on the planet with incredible powers and authority over the nation. However, according to the culture of Swaziland, he may not choose his own heir. He schooled in England. 

The King of Swaziland with a traditional costume. He is 44 years old.  

He is an only child and rules the nation with his mother, the Queen Mother, who is also called the Indlovukazi meaning the Great She-Elephant which makes her a Joint Head of State with her son. In Swaziland, the Queen Mother is the spiritual head of state. 

One of his 14 queens. Each queen has her own palace and luxury cars and they enjoy regular shopping sprees to Europe, Arabia and other fantastic places across the globe. 

But, there is one thing about the Swazi King that draws millions of tourists to his tiny country. It is called the Umhlanga or the Reed Dance. At Ezulwini, also called the Valley of Heaven and the base of the Swazi Royal House, thousands of naked or topless ladies virgins parade themselves and dance before His Majesty, the King of Swaziland. 

Here, he is shown with the Zulu king, King Goodwill ­Zwelithini (left in leopard skin).

Out of these, he picks a new virgin every year and adds to his collection of wives -he has 14 already. Well, don't shout yet, his father had 70 wives. The virgins parade themselves undressed because tradition says that is a sign of purity and only unmarried and childless ladies are allowed to participate in the annual Reed Dance. Apart from allowing the King to chose a new wife, one other purpose of the Reed Dance is to preserve the chastity of young Swazi girls (they need it) and is said to be used to fight HIV/AIDS as it promotes abstinence (me am yet to understand how that works sha). 

During the festival, tens of thousands of Swazi girls (also called 'national flowers') from different villages across the nation attend, and they can number from 20,000 and up to 100,000 in number -out of all of them, the King will select just one to become the new Queen. The King has been doing so since 1999 and the festival lasts for weeks.

With the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. 

Currently, he has 14 wives and 23 children. The first two wives of the Swazi King are chosen for him by the national council and the culture also state that the King can only marry his fiancees after they have become pregnant to show that they are fertile and can produce an heir to the throne. 

In royal military uniform. 

Africa's last absolute king. 

Toasting to a good life. 

Big boy, sharp suits. 

Although the King has a private jet, strings of palaces (each wife actually has her own palace, amazing isn't it?), collection of exotic cars (especially BMWs and even a Maybach limousine that cost him 250,000 Pounds Sterling!), his country is one of the very poorest on earth. HIV/AIDS has ravaged the nation and it has the lowest life expectancy in the world, at just 31.88 years! HIV/AIDS infection in Swaziland is the highest in the world with 50% of those in their 20s infected with the virus! The World Health Organization says that in 2002, 64% of all the deaths in the country were due to HIV/AIDS, and in 2004, almost 40% of its pregnant women were infected with HIV. Also, there is drought, unemployment and hunger all over this beautiful African kingdom. 

Of course, I'd smile like that too! 

One of his 14 queens with Empress Michiko of Japan. 

Pix shows his first and eldest daughter, Sikhanyiso Dlamini, aged 24 years, she was trained in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. 

The king of swagger!

Sure king!

This is a traditional Swazi hut, what many citizens call home. 

In traditional attire, I am guessing those are ostrich feathers. 

With one of his 14 queens, he plans to break the record of his father who had 70 wives and over 200 children. 

Forget the boyish looks, King Mswati III of Swaziland is one of the richest royals in the world. Forbes estimates his wealth at $200 million and does not include the $10 billion left in trust for the Swazi nation by his father. 

Is Africa not just wonderful? 


THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. 
IYANIWURA.