Emalangeni (people)

Emalangeni
Regions with significant populations
	Maputaland-Lubombo region
Languages
	Nguni languages (early forms), Proto-Embo-Nguni
Religion
	Traditional African religion
Related ethnic groups
	Embo-Dlamini, Embo-Nguni, Ngwane people, House of Dlamini, Hlubi people, Tembe people

Last updated January 17, 2026

Emalangeni (also Embo-Dlamini or Nguni-Dlamini) was an early Nguni-speaking community in the Maputaland-Lubombo region of southeastern Africa.^[1]

The term is historically used to refer to the followers and descendants of Chief Langa within the broader Embo groups.^[1]^[2] It means "people of Langa" and functioned to refer to the community of early Swazi people that Langa led as Chief.^[1]

"Emalangeni" also survives in the praise names of the Dlamini clan, the current rulers of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

References

1 2 3 Sikhondze, Bonginkosi Bhutana. State Within A State: The History of the Evolution of the Mamba clan of Swaziland Transafrican Journal of History, vol. 15, 1986, pp. 144. JSTOR. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
↑ "The Swazi monarchy: siyinqaba (we are the fortress)". Africa Insight. 14 (1). Africa Institute of South Africa: 1–10. 1984. doi:10.10520/AJA02562804_192. ISSN 0256-2804 – via Sabinet African Journals.

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[State-1] 1 2 3 Sikhondze, Bonginkosi Bhutana. State Within A State: The History of the Evolution of the Mamba clan of Swaziland Transafrican Journal of History, vol. 15, 1986, pp. 144. JSTOR. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

[2] "The Swazi monarchy: siyinqaba (we are the fortress)". Africa Insight. 14 (1). Africa Institute of South Africa: 1–10. 1984. doi:10.10520/AJA02562804_192. ISSN 0256-2804 – via Sabinet African Journals.

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